10 reasons why I should wear a name tag

Growing up in Hawaii, a ‘haole’, I stood out from the rest of the kids. I was not short, I had blonde hair, green eyes and was rather unfortunately endowed, not a problem most Chinese, Korean or Japanese girls have. And being white didn’t help either, but that’s a whole other issue. My brother on the other hand looked just like the locals and fit right in. It helped that he was 6 feet tall, dark skinned, black hair and brown eyes. No one had a problem with his name.

Having the last name Tittle in school was no picnic for me. From the day I entered Ala Wai Elementary until my final days at McKinley High School, I endured 10 years of name calling, cat calls and just about any kind of reference to breasts you could imagine. All because of my last name and above mentioned physical attribute.

As I grew up, I realized it was just a name. But names shape us into who we are. When the taunts and jokes don’t stop, even when you’re over 40, you learn not to listen, or you make the joke first just to break the ice. Or sometimes, you don’t even give your last name, because it’s just too much trauma for 6 letters.

So I started to think, maybe I should just wear a nametag. I’m serious, not just as part of a job, I don’t have a job where I wear a nametag, I won’t ask you if you need fries with that. But I really do think I should wear a name tag everyday. When I leave the house, just like grabbing my purse and keys, I should grab my name tag. A name tag would make my life so much easier. It totally would.

Seriously…

1. When I go to the dry cleaner, I stand there and spell my name over and over. With a nametag they could never get my name wrong…on paper, because usually after 5 mins, they just write down my first name only.

2. With my trusty nametag they may still call me Ms. Tit-lay, yes, Ms. Tit-lay, when I check out at the grocers, but they’ll remember my name the next time after I correct them.

3. With a name tag, the guys at GameStop could get their laughs out long before I have to stand at the counter, say my name then spell it thru the snickers, when making a game reserve.

4. At a nightclub, you don’t have to call me darlin’, darlin’. *points to name tag* My Name Is…, “Yes, really it is.”, “Yes, they are real.”, and “No, I don’t want to dance with you…now.”

5. A name tag would always answer the question, “Do I know you?” All without that embarrassing look on my face because I don’t know if I do…and if I should say anything or just play along.

6. I wouldn’t seem like the crazy lady in a floppy hat saying hello to you in the park. Well, I still would, but at least you’d know my name in order to report me. O_O

7. The postman would always give me my mail when I meet him at the mailboxes, instead of making me wait to put the little key in the little door on the little box.

8. When I’m out for a fancy meal, and I ask, can I get fries with that? I can get away with it.

9. On the phone, in the mail, anything sent to Ms. Tiddle, Piddle, (I know right?), Pittle, Tuttle, Turtle, Title, Titel, Little, because you think my name can’t possibly be, Tittle, would be corrected because right there in front of you is my name tag.

10. I wouldn’t have to do this everytime someone asks me to spell my last name: “That’s Tittle, like little, but with a ‘t’, like in Tom, T-i-t-t-l-e. That’s, T as in Tom, I, T as in Tom, T as in Tom, L, E.”

I really don’t think it would be so bad having a name tag on. Think about it if you had one, how much easier and nicer would things be? How much nicer would you be? Would you be more understanding of the 40 year old lady in front of you at the dry cleaners, grocers, GameStop, Sephora make up counter, will call at Sears, Ticketmaster, or any place where a last name is needed to make a transaction, spelling her name over and over again?

~Tet~