Another Willow O’Brien?
Could it be true!? Another Willow O’Brien? (granted I’m Willo – no ‘w’ on the end, cuz I’m THAT cool) but the truth is that my birth certificate had one on there. (I know, not as cool as you thought? damn.)

The story goes that somewhere around 8 or 9 or so, I dropped it off. I honestly can’t remember… and didn’t even think of it until around 24 and people started asking me about it. So I figure it was back when Jenny’s were becoming just ‘Jeni’ – I guess I thought Willow wasn’t originally enough as it was! haha!! Well, that and it was probably anything to get my name further away from the Willow tree. Weeping Willow, Pussy Willow, Willow Pillow. Oh no, you can’t use those names on me now – I’m rubber & you’re GLUE!

Anyway – before I start seeking out the comfort of tator tots in a local elementary school, let me get back to my post.

There IS another Willo(w) O’Brien. No shit! And I’ve actually known this for about 5 years, because of a couple random occasions… but the other day was the coup d’etat!

But first lemme bore you with how I’ve had close encounters with this “other Willow”. I think the first one was getting my library card… and they said “You already have a library card!” and I said “No, I don’t.” and they said, “Yes, you live on ____ street…” and I said “No, I don’t”… wala. That was the other Willo(w) O’Brien encounter #1.

#2. Selling clothes at Buffalo Exchange. They ask for your I.D. and when I showed it to her, the lady looked up at me and said “Is this yours?”
“Yes.”
“Really? Your name is Willo O’Brien?”
“Yes! Why?” I said, getting freaked that this woman was looking at me like I was an identity theif – or an alien.
“Well, we know a Willow O’Brien. That’s wierd.”
At that point I tried to ask her about this “other Willow” – but she was still looking at me like an alien… so I stopped asking.

#3. I used to get random phone calls for her… Apparently she wasn’t listed in the SF phone book, but for a time in about 1997/98, I was. So when Willow’s Uncle-whoever was in town and didn’t have her number, he wound up leaving a message on my phone instead! I actually got a couple voice mails from people passing through town trying to look Willow up.

Oh – that and there was a message left years ago: “Uh, Willow – you said you were going to be here at, like, 2 to bring by those belts, and uh – like, you’re not here” (all in a retail-y girl type voice, ya know) I actually called that one back since they left me their number, just to let her know I wasn’t that Willow. And again, tried to just probe one little step further into who this other Willow was… but it again wasn’t received very well.. and I gave up and got off the phone with the girl.

And now for the coup d’etat:

Friday I’m sitting in the waiting room at the doctor’s office… reading my newest issue of BUST – and come upon page 28 or so I find a full page spread titled “FASHIONISTA – Willow O’Brien’s Kitkitdodge cashmere undies may make pants obsolete.” And the funnest part is seeing this 1/2 page photo of Willow right there in front of me! How fun, huh? Well turns out she’s one of the owners of a new retail store here in town, called: Ver Unica. I’ll have to check it out.

I guess the real coup d’etat will be when I actually meet her. I’m sure it won’t be as entertaining as the stories above.. but ya never know. There’s one thing I do know for sure… is there is only one Willo O’Brien with just one ‘w’. (or atleast as far as I know!)

update 6/29/03: wow, I’m such a dork – I had written a little about this back in march and didn’t even realize it until now! let’s hear it for only a few braincells – WOOOOoooo (woo-ing fades and willo slinks away…)

UPDATE 2/18/06: I met Willow O’Brien!