Hi. I’m Marla. Gimme a Minute. I wanna talk to you about my name. Marla. Not Maria. My name is Mar La. I think some people must be lazy readers or something.
I get junk mail, and email directed to Maria. I’m pretty sure I did not accidentally spell my first name with an “I”. It’s an “L” people!! Now I know some lovely women named Maria, so it’s not the name that makes me nuts, it’s just that my name is Marla.
When I answer the phone at work I say…. Hi this is Marla can I help you? .. I know it’s quick, but it’s friendly right? About half the time, the response I get starts off “yes Monica I need blah blah blah.” And I say blah blah blah because once they’ve called me Monica, I’ve pretty much stopped listening.
My name is Marla. I have a few friends named Anndrea. And, a couple who go by Onndrea. I have at least two friends named AnnDraya. And one who calls herself OnnDraya.
This is way more confusing. I’m sure it’s frustrating to them when I mispronounce their name. And it’s not that I’m not paying attention, I just forget which is which…Anndrea, Onndrea, Anndraya or Onndraya.
It’s to the point where I try to be the second person in the room to use their name. Then I watch my friend’s face for the p-o-ed..you-got-my-name-wrong flinch. ….Seriously….if you spelled them differently, it might help.