I have a very popular first name.
Ever since I was married, I have a very popular last name.
My hubby's name is also popular. He'll even roll off some number of how many others have his first and last name. He will tell you all about having to give additional information every time someone pulls up an account with his name.
For me? Hasn't been a problem yet... until lately.
I know all about multiple Sarahs. There were at least 2 at all times in my class all through grade school. I know all about always having to write your first name and last initial [Sarah O.] on assignments. Then, when all the grade schools in my hometown joined together for middle school and high school, there ranged from 4-6 Sarahs in my class. Sarah is a popular name. I know.
I have never had the problems I've had this year, though.
You see, after the first nine weeks of school, I received a new student whose mother just so happened to share my same name AND is now working for the same school district, except that her first name is spelled S-a-r-a... the wrong spelling of Sarah. [ha ha]
At first it was ha-ha-how-strange-is-that kind of interesting. Over this last nine weeks, though, it has become rock-in-your-shoe annoying.
I'm getting emails intended for her, which I have to reply to or forward on. And today, for the first time, I received a phone call intended for her.
Me: Hello. This is Sarah.
Doug: Hi. This is Doug from the train (?) company.
Me: Hi.
You know, our grade level used to take a field trip up to Abilene, and one of our activities was eating our sack lunch on a train. We haven't done that for a couple of years. I thought maybe they'd missed us! [ha ha] Anyway, I had no idea why I was getting a phone call from a train person, so I figured I'd let him do all the talking.
After the awkward pause (where I think he thought I was supposed to know who he was and communicate that), he continued by saying something about me being recommended by Marvin at the Circle school district.
Hmm. I don't know anyone in the Circle district, but... cool!
Me: Oh. Ok.
At that point he said something about energy, and it clicked in my head that he truly did not want to talk to me. He wanted the Sara [whose name is spelled incorrectly]. I told him I didn't have her contact information, so he'd have to call the district office. The funny thing [to me] was that the district office is apparently the one who directed him to me. Yikes. The ducks were not in a row this morning. For sure.
All I can say is, I hear this other Sara's job is only a 2 year position. Phew! I like being the only me in the district!
