GENUINE: What is it all about? Why Genuine?

Some time ago a friend and I began a conversation regarding the Vanity Plates and what our ultimate Vanity Plate would be. A Vanity Plate that describes you to a person on the street. They would look at that word on the back of your car and they would know that person. What would best describe you as a person? I was not sure. The one word that would best describe me as a human being?

It had to be seven letters or less. “INFLDER” I said. No that described the position I liked to play, but being an infielder should not be my legacy. How would I leave this world? Would I leave as a white heterosexual male with a few kids and a wife who loved him? What best describes this. “How about Normal”, I asked. Sure it was six letters which would fit, but is this the word that best describes me? Certainly, I have never been accused of being “Normal”. “How would you like to be seen by others?” she asked. How about “Nice Guy” I said. This might be somewhat true, but I have been known to be a real horses ass in the past. This was going to be hard, if not downright impossible.

"I am a Christian" I said. Too many letters and though it does describe me as a person, it is not all encompassing, hence the horses ass notation above.

"How about Athlete?" I queried. "Well", she said, "you are not getting any younger and pretty soon the wheels fall off." This may have been something in the past, but today it carries sort of a snicker with the label.

Out came the Thesaurus and the Dictionary. A few minutes of pondering and she came up with the word. “You’re Genuine” she said. “I’m what?” I asked. I have never heard of such a description, nor had anyone said I was, so we looked at the definition.

Genuine (j n y - n) 1. Actually possessing the alleged or apparent attributes or character: genuine leather. 2. Not spurious or counterfeit; authentic. 3.a honestly felt or experienced: genuine devotion. b. Actual; real: a genuine dilemma. 4. Free from hypocrisy or dishonesty; sincere. 5. Being of pure or original stock.

I’m not sure that this best describes me as a person, but if a friend can label another friend, I would be honored to carry this mark like a Scarlet Letter. What you see is what you get.

What is your Vanity Plate? Could you describe yourself in seven letters or less? Send me your word.