May 10 2015, I remember it like it was yesterday...
*insert How I Met your Mother flashback scene*
No, I didn’t kiss a cute boy or go on an awesome vacation. May 10 was the only day in the HISTORY of my life that Starbucks spelt my name correctly! That’s right, you heard me! S-h-o-s-h-a-n-n-a was marked in black on my frosted Grande Double Mint Chocolate Chip Frappuccino (no whip). I had to do a double take in disbelief and I didn’t even spell it for my barista! My jaw was dropped at this point and I carried on my day with a smile stretched from ear to ear.
Now if you’re reading this and your name is Joe, John, Bob or Kim, you probably should stop now, seeing as you most likely can’t relate to the ultimate satisfaction of someone getting your name spelt right on the very first try. Ever since I was little, I’ve always been slightly defensive about my name. “It’s not Shaaw-Shawna, it’s Showw-Shawna and no, I was not named after Rosh Hashanah.” At first I thought I was cursed with the most impossible name ever. People either couldn’t spell it or they couldn’t pronounce it. As I've gotten older, I’ve embraced my name and love that no one else has it.
To all of the celebrity babies out there (North, Esmerelda and Bodhi), childhood will be tough but you will get past it and I’m here to tell you that I know how you feel.
- Most likely you’ll have a nickname. They might get that wrong too and that’s okay. I try to save people six letters and say my name is “Sho." Super easy, right!? Not when they write “Shell” on your pizza plate at Blaze and you go down the whole row being referred to as that. Super close, bro ... but I am not a character from Finding Nemo! Try again!
- Use a fake name! Mekala, Lynisha, and Raquel, I am talking to you! At Panera, I use my fathers name, Randy (basic) or when I’m making a reservation, I use my sisters name, Rachel (basic) or for a fitting room sometimes, I’ll say my moms name, Lisa (basic). Yes, thank you mom and dad for giving me the most complicated name of the family ... you win!
- If you really want to have a good time, I like to do it as a game. Next time, pick an awesome fake name to really crank up the excitement level. Voldemort, Ironman, Kermit ... The stares will already happen thanks to your mouthful of a name, so why not have a little fun with it?
At this point you probably think I'm either a huge fatty (truth) by all the places I regularly eat at – or maybe you can relate just a little. Will they ever get it right? Maybe! There’s hope! It has happened to me once which means it could happen again and even to you! And when it does, let it be known and cherish it cause it may not happen for another few months or years – or until Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt name their next baby after you.
So to Susan, Jim, Brad and Wendy, I’m telling you now that the little things do matter! For instance, you don’t have to say your name twice or even spell it for anyone like us “different” people. So this is my “sorry not sorry” for not being basic. We like our names and were going to keep them even if you can’t spell them or say them!
Sincerely,
Your new favorite writer,
Shoshanna (Show Shawn uh) Babitt (like Rabbit)
