It's funny writing or talking about yourself in the third person. I remember when I was twenty-one and leading a week-long wilderness trip for twelve to fourteen-year-old kids. Mikey, a seven-year-old with a messy blond head of hair, a nose covered in light freckles and a fire in his eyes, had somehow managed to go along with us. He'd tag along beside me through the woods.  He got cold the first day out and I gave him my wool hat to wear. He insisted on wearing it every day.

One day, when the camp owner left me in charge to assign roles, I said, "Kane does this and Jan does this…" as I gave directions to a group of fifteen attentive kids. They nodded in agreement as I quickly explained what needed to be done.

Mikey turned to me, yanked my pullover (it can be cold in Maine even in the summertime) and interrupted, "But Ja-an. Isn't that you?" I nodded and continued assigning roles to the rest of the group.

Then when I was done and the group dispersed, he came and sat next to me on a log. He pulled out his sandwich to eat. He said, "But Ja-an. Why are you talking about yourself in the third person?"

I stared at him for a second and started laughing. "I have no idea," I said. "Maybe it sounds better?"

We looked at each other for a split second and then busted out laughing.

Whenever I hear the words "third person," I remember this and smile.