For most of my life, I have gone by the same name. I may in another post expound on certain temporary nicknames and their significance, but I largely have been called by the same five letters I was given post-womb (unless I was in trouble, in which case the four letters of my middle name were also added ... and a couple exclamation points). Every once in a while though I run across a person who cannot remember my name, or who thinks my name is something different than what it is. The first instance in my memory of a name foul ball was my tee ball coach when I was four, who (despite countless insistant corrections from my mother) called me Blaine for an entire summer. This later carried on in college when a neighboring coach kept referring to "that runner Blaise" when speaking of me. (On a complete misinformation note, there was a guy in junior high who I considered a friend and who called me Josh for a whole school year. I stopped trying to correct him after a while and I wouldn't be surprised to this day if he thinks my name is Josh).
Well bring in my fairly new job. In this position I finish all emails with a signature that says my name, position, address, and contact info, yet for some reason in replies I have been called these names:
I guess if it's short and it starts with a B it works. On top of that, there is another employee in a different office who has the same first name, and a week ago he earned a well-deserved and highly publicized promotion. He has worked with the company for more than 10 years (I've worked here a little over three months), but you would be surprised at the number of compliments I received both in person and by email. One lady, who has worked for the company for many years and knows the other Blake, wrote me an email about a business matter and on the top wrote CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR PROMOTION!! She knows I've only worked here for three months. What have I done in three months to deserve a promotion? Ha. I've had many many congrats. If only they were true!
4 comments:
I get called Stephanie a lot. A lady at my old job called me both Tiffanie and Stephanie interchangeably. I get that more with people from other countries where Tiffanie isn't as familiar, but she's totally American and probably shops quite frequently at Tiffany's.
Remember when Praveen's mother always called you "Blank." And yes I think you deserve a promotion. How about an office with "President Blank" on the door? It works for me.
Oh, I forgot about all the international students and their misspellings. Blik, Brak, Blank, Brok, Breck. They can never get it right.
Great post! You're the only Blake I know.
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