What's in a name?

I suck at posting regularly, I know this. Sorry.


So, what's in a name, really? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, right? Unfortunately, for me, names are kind of a big deal. I wouldn't go around sticking my nose in something called a Stinkblossom, would you?

Names are special, really. Eventually you get past the point whole "I want to change my name because my parents sucked at naming me" thing that Stephanie Tanner went through on Full House. (Remember? She wanted to be called Dawn? Remember??) We all went through it. For about three days I tried to get people to call me "Lauren". Lauren's not even my name. Or my middle name. It's close (my middle name is actually Lorena) but it's still pretty off the wall when for about 13 years I had been known as "Jamie" to all of my friends. Needless to say, my new name didn't take off and I abandoned the effort.

I always thought it was awkward when you met someone with the same name. Are you supposed to join a club like The Ashleys from Recess? Are you supposed to be BFFs? In my experience, it results in more confusion during class when the teacher is calling roll or assigning group projects. Especially when you are hoping that they put Hot Eric in your group and not Zelda T-Shirt Eric. (Sorry, Eric.)

Nowadays, it almost seems as if people are seeking out others with the same name as them. In Florida, a woman did exactly that. She literally searched for him. Also, we have the issue of Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautner. Are they together? Are they "just friends?" Is anyone else as weirded out by two people with the same name dating as I am?

Sure, it gives me the skeeves a bit. But maybe if I got over it, I would have actually given my number to the cute Starbucks guy today instead of leaving with a chegg and bitter disappointment.

You see, I go to Starbucks a lot, a couple of times a week on my way to work. Usually I go through the drive-through where "Jamie" is always super happy to take my order. But "Jamie" was never the person who delivered my drink through the window. So I went in today to actually get a Chegg and because I was having an awesome hair day.

The cute guy behind the counter winked at me, sauntered up the register to take my order, and I was ready to totally write my number on my receipt and hand it back to him. That is, until he said "Hey, I'm Jamie. What can I get you today?"

I'm not from Florida. I'm not a famous Taylor. I'm a normal person who thinks it is weird to date someone with the same name as me. So I took my chegg and I left. Sorry cute Starbucks dude. Maybe you'd like to legally change your name?