I'm beginning to realize that, while I love my name and wouldn't change it, I get really annoyed sometimes because of it. No one's ever made fun of my name, but there are other things that are hard to deal with. When I tell people my name they always say, "oh, that's pretty." But then they tell me that they won't be able to remember it and I'm going to have to tell it to them again. And I do, I don't mind, the next time I see that person they ask again and I tell them again. And the next time and the next time. People seem to think that just because my name is out of the ordinary they have an excuse never to remember it. Now names are very important to me, perhaps it is because mine is unusual and therefore, in my world, unique to me, I feel it represents who I am. When people are careless with my name and continually forget it or mispronounce it I begin to feel insulted. These people, almost all of them men, but I'm not making any generalizations, seem to treat my name as a game they can play with me, "Oh, let's see if I can get it right this week." And when they do get it right they flaunt this in front of me for a while. And frankly, I'm not too impressed, I've lived with my name all my life. It's not new to me anymore. I do get impressed when people pronounce my name right the first time (it's lin-Nay-uh) or don't ask me to repeat it and still remember it. Now I'm not saying everyone has to remember my name, my roommate couldn't get it right for awhile, but I want people to make an effort. I don't like it when people want me to get a kick out of them not remembering my name or want to make it into a game. And I don't really want to hear about every other "Linnea" they've ever known, either, but that's kind of a hard one to really get angry about, since they don't know that I've heard about tons of "Linnea's" especially since coming to Covenant. I like to believe I'm the only one, though, and those people make it harder for me. Especially one guy who all five times I met him proceeded to tell me about Linnea who had gone to Dayspring University or something in Kenya and married some guy and just because we have the same name doesn't mean I'm interested in her. So, that's my rant. Enjoy it for what it's worth.
Posted by linnea at November 11, 2004 11:40 AMBut you'll always be the only LinnyBobStinkyPants. Probably ever.
Oh, those first emails we exchanged...
And, oh, I know what you mean, except mine is a family name. But honestly. People regularly call me Becky Tuggle or Turgy or Tubby or even Peggy. I have a beautiful name and it's hard not to wince when it's butchered.
Posted by: tuggy at November 11, 2004 12:52 PMPoor thing. Your parents were so mean to give you such a name!! But it was so worth it wasn't it?! By the way, your last few blogs don't sound too cheery. What's up? Or is this just the place where you vent your frustrations so that you can be happy every where else? Must've had lots of new people asking your name, huh?
Posted by: sperlonga at November 11, 2004 12:52 PMHere's to having a unique name!
Yours is so beautiful, and I think you were about the only person on the hall whose name I remembered from day one when I first moved in.
I guess I've been lucky with my name. It usually doesn't get butchered. Instead, I get called by other three-syllable girls names like Samantha or Tiffany. Which is all right, except that I am and have been good friends with other people by those names, and I am not them.
Posted by: tabitha at November 11, 2004 1:52 PMFeeling a bit touchy, are we?
Posted by: ryan at November 11, 2004 2:02 PMYour post hasn't left me much to say, Linny, since I'm not allowed to flaunt my knowledge of your name. My parents didn't give me my preferred name, Mott (don't tell them I prefer it), but even so I often cringe when I tell people that my name is Mott. They always make such a big deal of it.. whether it's getting it wrong or telling me about someone else whose last name is Mott or asking me to tell them the entire history of the name. It gets a bit annoying.
In fact, since returning to PA, where everyone originally knew me as Matt, Mott has almost disappeared. It's just too weird to ask my family to say it, and whenever I meet new people it's always much easier just to go with Matt. How stinky is that?
So, I guess I just wanted to commiserate. Wasn't that splendid? Just be glad your last name isn't that of a farm animal.
Posted by: mott at November 11, 2004 6:36 PMOh, Mott, I'm sorry people don't all call you Mott because it makes your last name so much more fun. I don't know why. It makes your name more symmetrical or . . . something.
Posted by: linnea at November 11, 2004 8:29 PMI remembered your name, Linnea :)
Posted by: Evan Donovan at November 11, 2004 11:47 PMYeah you tell 'em!! "It's my name darn it so remember it and don't think your special if you do!" Oh and no else has the same name as you. Mom and Dad got it in a special revelation. Hey who are these guys who are flaunting their knowledge of your name? Time to take some names and kick some well... Anyway.
Posted by: Will at November 12, 2004 2:29 AMYou have set the standard for Linnea-hood, in my book. I'll just have to call all the rest Bob.
PS Try living with a last name that gets thrown around in casual conversation so much that it is used to refer to everything and nothing.
Posted by: funkefreak at November 15, 2004 11:30 PMimagine having MY name (which you do).
names are important to me, too. and I think you're even cooler and pretty-er and unique-er than your name. (notice those unique spellings.)
the end.
Posted by: bob at November 16, 2004 10:58 PM