Tuesday, January 29, 2013

The month I was called Al



Once upon a time, when I worked at a marketing agency, my boss, who always referred to me as amanda, starting calling me AL in his email correspondence.

At first I thought it was just a simple error. A brain bubble, if you will. Because it was quite clear that my name was not Albert, or Alfred, or Aldo, or Alonzo, or Al Borland, or Alchemy (although I wouldn’t necessarily be opposed to that last one).

But the mistake continued. And it got to the point where not only was I AL in email correspondence, but I became AL when he wanted to visit my desk to ask a question and AL when he greeted me upon entering the conference room.

I laughed it off, of course, because I am nothing if not a good sport (and highly aware of when I may be missing the big picture), but this activity continued for the better part of a month or so until it dawned on me...

The dawning occurred after a mass email went out, in which my boss not only referred to me as AL, but my coworkers Dennis B. and Erin A. as DB and EA.

So AL wasn’t a short form of Aldous or Alma. AL were my new initials. (Without the periods, of course. Because we know how tiresome periods can be when sending off quick emails). I just hadn’t realized it yet.

All of my assumptions of him being funny or mischievous or cryptic couldn’t have been farther from the truth. He was merely being accurate.

While I was left with the sudden realization that I’d be suck with a man’s name for my initials for the rest of my life.

5 comments:

  1. You could have WAP. I went from WAN to WAP. LOL!

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  2. What's your maiden name?!!! You could be WASP!!

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    1. Noll. LOL! Nickname in HS, Breezy on the Grassy Knoll--I talked a lot. Couldn't guess, right??

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  3. I receive SO many emails where people refer to me as Bruce. It's usually by men and it makes me think they are not observant to take the time to notice the BRANDY that comes before Bruce. Sometimes when it's back and forth and they always refer to me as Bruce, it's a little awkward because I realize they think they are conversing with another man. That's when smiley faces come in handy.

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    1. Haha! Yes, emoticons and also be sure to call them "sweetie".

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