Awhile back, I posted a blog about the humor behind the search engine terms people use to find our websites (my favorites still being “penut butter butt”). And even awhiler back I posted a blog about middle names and our shyness towards them. Today I join the two to tell a story worthy of Oprah’s special on siblings being reunited. In this case, we’re basketball rivals and the other half of the whole doesn’t know who the heck I am. But that’s ok. I know of her and I also know that Oprah would still chomp at the bit to cover this story…
In keeping with the joys of reviewing the search engine terms used to find my blog, I’ve noticed that a handful (not a heap, but definitely more than a pinch) of people have sought out a former Lamar basketball superstar, Diane Dittburner, on the internet and come across my “middle name” blog that acknowledges my admiration for someone talented whose name is pronounced AND spelled just like my middle name: “Diane,” for all the few, the proud, and the slow out there. Let’s just say Diane was ever so slightly (maybe a hair but not more than a tad) better than me when it came to the sport.
I hadn’t seen or heard of her for almost ten years. In fact, I forgot her last name until Mark (also from Lamar) reminded me of it in the ‘middle name’ post. Not to say that I forgot the respect I had for her as an athlete. I only forgot the “Dittburner” part, that’s all.
Funny thing is, over this past weekend, my thoughtful, considerate, determined, and ambitious friend, Judi, got a picture with D.Ditt in pü-town Lamar (the only 2 things I remember about Lamar are the famous, homegrown basketball players and the pü smell). She relayed the why’s and what’s and who’s and huh’s of the story to D.Ditt and convinced her of the necessary photo op for proof of our one-sided reunion.
D.Ditt was pleased to accommodate, or humor, me. She’s such a nice, selfless famous person. Much like Rod Smith, if I say so myself. All the more reason to admire her.
Just look how excited Judi is, being the very one responsible for reuniting siblings rivals. If I ever get on Oprah with this story, you Judi, will be the one that accompanies me and sits on the first row. D.Ditt will of course be the one that comes from backstage halfway through to surprise everybody (even me) with her attendance. Maybe (just for kicks but not for giggles) we can play a little 1-on-1, she can stuff the ball back in my face, give me a black eye, and strip my eyelashes from my lids. Just like old times. Just like when we were kids.
And maybe, just maybe, I can become just as famous as her as more and more people find MY site in their “Diane Dittburner” search engine curiosity.
It’s so good having you back, D.Ditt. It’s so good having you back.
p.s. I swear I’m not a stalker. Just easily humored.
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