Curious Coincidence

The date is March 9th, 2000, of course abbreviated as MAR09. I remember clearly, because the world finally got through that Y2K scare. You know the one, where the computers weren't going to crash and planes would fall out of the sky all because it wouldn't be able to handle the millennium change from 1999 to 2000. And as Prince, the legendary solo guitar artist, stated in one of his songs, we're going to party like it's 1999.

I also remember that date so clearly, because it happened to be my dad's birthday. I had just woken up around 5pm preparing and getting ready for my night shift at work. I was working at this private aviation company, which prepared flight plans, flight permits and weather reports to all pilots requesting this service. It was a pretty intense job but paid well.

So as I was getting ready for my night shift, I remembered I should call my dad and wish him a happy birthday. I dial his number.

"Hello" his voice answered in a suspicious tone.

"Happy birthday old man," I shouted

"Hey son, what's crackalackin' "(a slang term he often used with me to ask what's going on with me.) He sounded much more upbeat now.

"Hey son, you know I may be a year older but hey, I can still crank that locomotive, if you know what I'm saying.? We both laughed hard.

"Oh yeah, who is the lucky lady tied to the train tracks?" We both laughed again

"So I'm doing ok dad, I just wanted to give you a call before I forget. I have to work tonight. I have to be there before 10pm" I stated

"Ok son, I ain't gonna hold you up, thanks so much for the birthday wishes. We'll talk later when you're not in a rush. I love you son."

"Love you too dad" "ok later" I replied

"Later son"

Then I disconnected the call.

So I finally arrived at work around 9:45pm. I hear the hustle and bustle of the operations stirring up on the main call center floor. I had my startup routing. First, I run to the bathroom, afterwards I would go to the break room and get my strong cup of coffee, because, if I didn't I would run into a falling asleep brick wall somewhere between 3 and 4am. I definitely couldn't afford that because we had pilots call from all over the world, especially from African and Asian private charter flying companies. Then I would finally grab my headset and log into my station.

Of course the hustle and bustle of the operation's floor is going on and I also join the operation's chatter and begin taking calls.

Finally, my favorite time of the night arrives at about 11:50pm ."CHOW RUN" one of the operation's technicians yells out to remind whoever is going to do the run, that it's time to go now. We're hungry. Of course the whole operation's floor was in agreement but only one or two technicians could afford to leave their station to make the lunch run.

Well, guess who got picked? (Yours truly) Along with another technician that was also ready to take his smoke break. We took orders from some of the technicians that didn't bring their lunch. Of course the common order was fast food with fries and sodas. It took us about 30 minutes to get all the orders and get back. (Today we have Doordash for those kinds of chow runs)

We finally got back and distributed all the appropriate orders to those who ordered. Everything was good and all were happy, chowing down their burgers and whatnot.

So I finally went back to my station to eat my cheeseburger. I made sure my phone was offline because I am not taking any calls while eating this juicy cheeseburger. While I was eating my sandwich, I noticed my name on the phone. "What the hell?" Did someone leave me a message on my phone? I checked my phone for messages, there were none. "What the hell?"

Why is my name displaying on my phone? I see it clearly as day. My name is on my phone.

So I quickly finished eating my lunch but now I am suspicious. I know what it is now. It's a gag. My crew team, although we were very good and got things done, we had our jokers in the group. For example, one time I went to the bathroom, and when I came back, I found my computer screen flipped upside down. When I came back, I said "what the hell!"

"Who flipped my screen as I stood up looking for obvious culprits. So I am looking around and of course I see several smerks and snickers coming from the group. They were all in on the joke. When I was a newbie. Then finally one of the veteran technicians said to me, let that be a lesson to you newbie. Do not leave your station computer unlocked when you leave briefly, because we can do all kinds of sabotage options to mess your station up. It happened to another newbie and they sent silly emails from his account to the supervisor. Yeah I learned my lesson after that. But getting back to why I am seeing my name on my phone. It's probably another one of their pranks that I didn't know about again.

So I quietly stand up and walk to the other technicians phones and behold I see my name on their phone also. "What the hell!" I walked to other stations that weren't even being used. I look at the phones, I see my name on those phones as well. What's going on? I thought to myself.

If this was a group prank they were very very good at this one. So I finally go back to my station and I sit down confused and dazed. How in the hell are they doing this? All the phones had my name on them. However, a call comes in for me to handle, I take care of the pilot call and after I finish with that business, I log back off and contemplate what I am going to do about seeing my name on everyone's telephone. I pause for a minute, then I stand up and start clapping my hands very slowly and methodically. "Ok guys good job, you got me", while still clapping my hands. "Great job, I don't know how you did it but this is a good prank on me. You got me!"

I stopped clapping my hands and I looked around again for obvious smerks and snickers but there were none. Matter of fact, I got dirty looks like, what's your deal man, we're working here.I sat back down at my desk more confused than ever. If it's not a prank from them, then what is it? Why is my name showing on all the phones on the operation floor? So finally I ask the main pranker on our crew.

"Hey Mike, do you see my name on your phone?' I asked.

"What name are you talking about?" "I don't see any name on the phone"

"Yes it is." I pointed it out to him. "Right here...you see it?"

"Man, that's not your name, that's today's date. I was floored. I then took a second look at it, and yes that's what it was, today's date March 10th, displayed as such (MAR10). Oh by the way, my first name is Mario.

Written by Mario Jetér