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Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Playing "What's My Name?"

Sometimes there's nothing to do, but laugh, right? The Big Giraffe and I do not have the same last name. Here's the honest truth about it. It really annoys me when people call me Mrs. Giraffe although not as much as when they call me Mrs. Big Giraffe and use my husband's complete name. If your name is Susan would you want to be called Jane? Probably not. You would probably correct the person and explain that Susan wasn't your name.

That being said, there are places where I make allowances. One is the pediatrician's office because they see a gazillion kids a day. I also understand that my kids' teachers have enough of a challenge keeping track of 20-40 kids' names, without needing to worry about potentially doubling the number of last names. Of course in that case, I would actually prefer to be addressed by my first name anyway, when that is realistic.

Things do go in the other direction as well. The Big Giraffe is used to being called Mr. Elliot at the vet's office and when getting our cars serviced, for example. He does hear less Elliot than I do Giraffe, however, particularly at this key time of the year, when we get to play...drum roll please...the annual holiday card edition of "What's my Name?"

The rules of "What's my Name" are simple. Our family and friends send us Christmas cards addressed to some sort of representation of our family's identity, and the Big Giraffe and I look at the envelopes and laugh. For the mischievous amongst my readers, I want to be absolutely clear. I would far, far, far prefer to get properly addressed cards than to gain a gratuitous laugh at your expense. Please don't try to make up something funny for next year's cards. For the more nervous amongst my readers, I would rather get a humorously addressed card than no card. Please don't not send me a card because you are worried about offending.

For this year, however, I can share what we have learned from studying the results of "What's my Name" games played to date. We have noticed a correlation between the years that people know me and the tendency to completely screw up my name. If it's addressed correctly we know it's a newer friend (or one of the Big Giraffe's colleagues). Let's say you met me last week and for whatever reason wanted to send me a card. I can pretty much guarantee that you would address the envelope correctly. I don't know if it's the more you know me, the more you know that I'm married and I have kids and thus start to play around with my name or what. The second worst offenders appear to be friends from before I was married who have taken their husbands' last names. (The Big Giraffe keeps threatening to send next year's holiday cards addressed to their maiden names.) Unfortunately, the very worst offenders appear to be family!

This year has seen:
  • Mr. and Mrs. Big and Alex Giraffe
  • Mrs. Alex Giraffe (which would be appropriate if I had taken the Giraffe's last name, gotten divorced, and kept the Giraffe last name)
  • Mr. and Mrs. Big Giraffe
  • Mr. and Mrs. Big Elliot
  • Mr and Mrs. Big and Alex Elliot
  • The Elliot-Giraffe family (which is my preference)
  • Big, Alex, OS and YS (no last names)
So how on earth do you know how to address an envelope to friends with different names? Let's go back to Susan and Jane. It's is the responsibility of the person to tell you how they want to be addressed. After all you aren't a mind reader. That being said, most people will put the name they want to be called on their return address label. Tis the season to be looking at the return address labels on the cards you receive. Or if you're like me and have a neighbor who you know doesn't know your name, stick a return address label on a post it and give it to them.

And now for my favorite addressed envelope of the season: Alex Elliot and The Giraffes. Doesn't it sound like a rock band? I love it!

Mrs. Big Giraffe's A. Elliot's Lesson Learned: A giraffe by any other name still has a long neck.

Labels: ,

posted by Alex Elliot @ 7:43 PM   5 comments
5 Comments:

  • At 12/30/2009 2:50 PM, Anonymous mayberry said…

    I run into this when I address cards and I always try to get it right. This year I had to make my husband email one of his friends to find out if his new wife was taking his name.

    I usually do the Elliot-Giraffe family, or I do Alex Elliot, Big Giraffe and Family (or and OS and YS).

    Handcramp! just thinking about all this.

     

  • At 12/30/2009 6:05 PM, Blogger Goofball said…

    In Belgium you cannot take your husband's name so all couples have a different name.

    I usually write
    Mr & Mrs Big & Alex Giraffe - Elliot

    or less frequently

    Alex Elliot & Big Giraffe

    I never write return addresses though, too much effort.

     

  • At 12/31/2009 7:30 PM, Blogger Jen of A2eatwrite said…

    We're having a different issue now, although we have that one, too - but now that C is becoming college-application age, many colleges are sending him materials, but some of them are having a horrid time with his rather simple, straightforward, British name. We never know who we have living with us these days! ;-)

     

  • At 1/02/2010 8:58 PM, Blogger Mommy to Tyler & Kendall said…

    Funny, I totally looked at your return address label this year and wrote it down for next year!

     

  • At 1/14/2010 12:28 AM, Blogger Suzanne said…

    Bah. You know how much this issue ires me. I should move to Belgium.

     
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Name:Alex Elliot
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About Me:Professional Mom of two cats, a dog, an ant farm, and oh yeah...two boys: a 6 year old and a 3 year old. Also found in my house is my husband who is known on this blog as The Big Giraffe.
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