sigh. How would you like the name of “Mrs. Robinson”? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had the coo, coo, ca-choo thing thrown back at me when I state my name. Sharing a name with an infamous seductress of young manhood is not always easy. At least most teenage to college-aged young men of today have no clue who Mrs. Robinson is. Let’s face it, they weren’t even born yet when the movie The Graduate came out back in 1967.

That being the case, I am spared their fresh-cheeked, sly, knowing grins. You know the sort of grin I mean—kind of lop-sided as it spreads slowly over their faces, glancing up at me out of the corner of their eyes, not quite making eye contact. What do they imagine they will see in my eyes? An invitation to seduction? Unmitigated lust? Anne Bancroft?

It’s hard to imagine that Anne Bancroft was only 36 years old when she starred in her infamous role (Dustin Hoffman was 30). Just 36. She was supposed to be 40-ish and he was supposed to be 20. I am somewhat past that now, and yet at my tender young age when the movie came out, I considered her ancient. I couldn’t imagine what a young attractive man would find in an “older woman” like that. I’m sure that I appear just as ancient to the young men of today. It’s hard to come to terms with, yet so very true. I never had children so I feel more like a teenager than someone’s mother, nor do I think like one.

The neighbors’ sons who are 20-ish called me Mrs. Robinson. I cringed inside every time they did, although I don’t think they’ve ever seen the movie. They are just showing respect for their elders. ouch. I know that. But, it doesn’t make me feel any better. Or any younger for that matter.  So, I asked them just to call me Lynne. Somehow I feel more comfortable with that. Fourteen-going-on-fifteen-going-on-thirty neighbor Luke who has looked after the cats for us when we’re gone is a different story. I know for a fact that he has seen the movie. He calls me Mrs. Robinson too, but I haven’t asked him to call me Lynne. Somehow it just doesn’t seem right. So, I think we’ve settled on Mrs. R.

Hey, at least I don’t have a daughter ...

P.S. My sister dated a guy, (Wayne) that looked a lot like Dustin Hoffman at about the same time as this movie came out. Weird.