Two guys named Erik

(By one guy named Erik)

Imagine how confusing it was to be named Erik and to have a roommate named Erik (also spelled with a ‘k’).

That was my life 10 years ago when I was a graduate student at the University of Georgia. My roommate (through three apartments, I might add) was Erik Benson, a doctoral student in the history department who grew up in Michigan.

Dr. Benson and his wife, Dawn, live in Grand Rapids, Mich., where Erik is a history professor at Cornerstone University (that’s him in the center of the photo if you click on the link). Dawn, who has a master's in journalism from UGA, works on the university's publications.

Benson (as I call him to avoid confusion) was in Oklahoma this weekend for a history conference at Oklahoma Baptist University. Jeanie and I met him for lunch in Bricktown. It was his first trip to Oklahoma since our wedding.

It was halftime during the Georgia-Colorado game, and Colorado (complete with its 114th-ranked offense) was up 10-0. Benson could see the TV in Chelino’s, so he gave us score updates. (Georgia just barely pulled it out at the last second and won 14-13. Whew!)

It was great having another Georgia fan around for the afternoon, and it was great hearing about Benson and Dawn’s adventures (including burning their feet at the Taj Mahal in India).