At least, so far, in my aqua yoga class I am the only Barbara out of 12 ladies. But it's just a matter of time, you know it is.
Friday, March 27, 2015
Some days it's amusing, some days annoying
Something I've never written about here on this blog, is the challenge of growing up as a girl named Barbara Anne. All through school, in a very small town, there was another Barbara Ann in my class. We started first grade together and graduated together. Keep in mind this was a class of 20 kids. I was in high school when those doggone Beach Boys put out that song. It should have been flattering, but from then on, every room I ever walked into, people would break out with BaBaBaBaBabra Ann. Yikes. Oh, just as an aside, my best friend was named Peggy Sue...remember her?
Through out the years I have gotten used to almost every place I went there was another Barbara. It hadn't happened for awhile, but recently... Well, when I went for my bone density scan the gal who did it was named Barbara. We laughed about it. Then a few weeks ago, at my Orthpedic Dr. I walked in for my appointment about the same time as another lady did. There are only two of us in the waiting room. As I sat down, the door opened and the office gal called out Barbara. I thought, wow that was quick. Usually I have to wait an hour! Well, the other lady got up and went in. Later the nurse said "did you see what happened"..to which I replied, "it always does." So day before yesterday I went in for the last appointment for my root canal. I am the only one in the office, another lady comes in and sits down. Ellie, the receptionist calls out "Miss Barbara"...and we both look up. Yesterday, I went in for my eye exam, to the place I have gone for 15 years. They have a new receptionist. Bet you can guess what her name is. When it happens twice in 2 days..YIKES.
At least, so far, in my aqua yoga class I am the only Barbara out of 12 ladies. But it's just a matter of time, you know it is.
Here is Barbara Anne Conner, circa 1956, 7th Grade. I am only showing this one because of the cats eye glasses. I saw 2 pair yesterday at the opticians office that were remarkably like these. NO...I did not order them. I did however order a geeky looking tortoise shell pair. I may or may not show you those when I get them.
At least, so far, in my aqua yoga class I am the only Barbara out of 12 ladies. But it's just a matter of time, you know it is.
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My name is just the opposite...I seldom ever run into another Janet, although there was one throughout my school years. She didn't have a middle name so she got to be Janet and I was Janet Kay (which I hated!)
ReplyDeleteI think I had glasses similar to those. I'll have to look for a pic of them.
It's good for you that there aren't a lot of Janets. I can imagine not liking Janet Kay, since it was both your names. One Aunt of mine still says Barbara Anne when addressing me!
DeleteSince we are the same "era" you most likely had some cats eye glasses. I'd love to see them.
Dang! How adorable that picture is!!
ReplyDeleteAnd how I laughed reading this post.
Patricia isn't a name you hear very often any more BUT one little 20 + girl just started here at work & her name is Patty!!! Another 30 something girl, who no longer works here, was actually a Patricia. Very surprised at that!!
HaHa...it is kind of cute photo, eh? I really hated wearing glasses and on photo day I would sometimes hide them, but then I couldn't see a darn thing, and it made the photo look funny anyhow.
DeleteMy friend who moved from California a few years ago didn't like her name Patsy..so she changed it to Patty. I thought that was funny.
My mother was Barbara. I don't recall her having any friends with the same name. My name, pronounced Mary - Linn, often and still is said as Marilyn. I went all through school with people who didn't know how to say it. I agree, that is an amazing abundance of Barbaras crossing paths with you. What a sweet photo. xo
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary-Linn. I've always liked the way your name was pronounced. I had a cousin named Marilyn and when her brother was mad at her he would say it Mary-Lin.
DeleteI met one Barbara awhile back, who had changed her name to Barra, which I think is really pretty.
Ah I love that photo! And the cat-eye glasses! If it means anything to you, I know exactly zero Barbaras... except YOU! So that means you're extra special in my book. xo
ReplyDeleteThanks Shannon, that is so sweet of you. You probably don't meet a lot with your same name. I know only one other Shannon, (hubby's niece), and she also lives in WA. state. LOL
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ReplyDeleteWell, I'd say you've kept a GREAT sense of humor through all that ! Lovely post about a *touchy* subject. I was 'Christi Anne', smooshed together as one word when my mom was disciplining me [which was often]. I think I remember the kids in school singing "ChristiChristiBoBisti, BananaFanna ....."etc etc ;>D
ReplyDeletep.s. swell glasses.
Thanks Christi. At least both our Anne's have the e on the end, not just plain old Ann. Ha Ha. I've had people pronounce it Annie tho, just because of the e. Oh, what to do about the names our parents thought would serve us well. It could always be worse.
DeleteI never realized Barbara was such a common name, I always thought my name was very common. Ha. what is an aqua yoga class ?
ReplyDeleteI think both our names are pretty common, but I sure have met a lot more Barbaras than Lindas!
DeleteAqua yoga is..well the simple answer, yoga in a therapeutic warm water pool. In water you have buoyancy that you don't have on land. It's developed for people who have physical limitations, such as, arthritis, injuries, pain from chronic illness, etc. I am finding it ever so helpful for my knees and my injured shoulder. I can do stretches in the water that I could never do in traditional yoga. I'm also working on my balance, in hopes of preventing any more falls.