Friday, March 5, 2010

The Name Game

Phew! It's been a busy blogging day, but I couldn't call it a day (as far as posting goes, SO many visits yet to make) I just HAD to link up with my pal, MiMi for her F-Bomb Friday, because it's what I do, and I love it!

To set up this story, I guess I need to mention that my real name is "Samantha". Nobody ever calls me that, but it is what is on my birth certificate, and it is what people who don't know me, call me.
I've had to deal with people misspelling my nickname all my life, but never my real name, until...

This story took me back about 11 years, to the end of my senior year (okay, go ahead and point and laugh if you've done the math, and figured out that I am only about 29. I get it, I'm young...bla bla bla.) of high school. I am LDS, and, as some of you may know, this means that in addition to regular school, I took a scripture study type class (called Seminary) from the time I entered high school. In Ohio, it was early in the morning. Once I moved to Utah, it was worked into my school schedule. Anyhoo...
Upon completion, your senior year, they hold a graduation ceremony of sorts, to honor those who have accomplished this goal. You get a "diploma" and everything!
I go to the ceremony, enjoy the presentation, walk accross as my name is called, get my diploma (which is in a plastic-y cover) and return to my seat. I open the cover, to see my name. Or at least, what was SUPPOSED to be my name.
SMATHA.
What the...! That's not even a name!
No biggie.
After the commencement is complete, I line up to talk to one of the Seminary teachers, behind a friend of mine whose name had also been horribly misspelled. Of course, hers was at least a name. Hers read "Amber" while her name is actually spelled "Ambre". I could totally feel her pain.
My teacher made a note of all the people who needed corrections, and I went happily on my way.
The next day at seminary, He gleefully presented me with my new "corrected" diploma.
SAMATHA.
When I looked up confused, and did not say thank you right away, the smile fell from his lips.
Him: "What's wrong".
Me: "It's still spelled wrong."
Him: "It is?!"
Me: "There's supposed to be an N between the A and the T."
Him: "Well, we're all out of diplomas, is that okay?"

Guess it has to be, doesn't it?! I wonder if they spelled Ambre right...

Now, head on over to MiMi's and link up with her...you won't regret it!

7 comments:

Macey said...

What?! Did they not look and see it was wrong before they gave it to you?
Dorks.
People always call me "Marcy." Ugh.

Emmy said...

Your name isn't that uncommon of a name, how could they mess it up so bad?? And by the way, I am 29 also, I will be 30 in October :)

shortmama said...

I guess Samantha was just too hard huh?

Jenny said...

That is really funny...but kind of irritating too for you. Smatha? Who the heck proofread those diplomas!

Xazmin said...

Okay, I didn't finish this post yet, but I just need to know. Are you in Utah NOW? Because it seems like I read something another time that made me think you were in a different state.

Xazmin said...

Seriously? Sheesh. I have had my name mispelled on pretty much everything. Ever. In my life. My mom is in trouble.

Brooks said...

Ah, ha, ha! I forgot about that!! I don't know hwo I ended up at this post, but that was awesome!

Personally, I think that you should have just kept "Smatha". At least that one is horribly misspelled and not just typo misspelled. Hang it on your wall... I have a feeling that it'll be a great conversation starter.