So as many of you know, my real name isn’t Sunny. Although I do like the name. In fact, I like it so much that I thought it would be a cool name for my daughter. But since my husband’s last name is weather related, we decided that life is hard enough without sounding like you’re a hooker, wrestler, or punch line from a kids’ joke book.
My real name is Tammy. Actually, Tamara, which I tried on for a year or so in my twenties, but it never really stuck. It’s hard to get everyone you’ve known for your entire life to suddenly start calling you something “more serious.” I suppose it’s just as bad as suddenly having to call your parents’ friends by their first names. . .
So Tammy it was, and Tammy it has stayed. I’ll admit I don’t love the fact that I live in Reno with this name. I’m guessing it makes people assume certain things that couldn’t be further from the truth. Like I live in a trailer with a pit bull. Or make money stripping. Or wear a lot of blue eyeshadow. Not that there’s anything wrong with that (okay, let’s be serious, there’s something wrong with all of that).
Anyway, I don’t really think much of my name until something pretty major happens. Like, for instance, I see it in large print at, say. . . Old Navy.
Honestly, I don’t know what to think about this. I like the fact that I keep my shape and size. And I’m “premium.” Not so happy that I’m only $8. But I guess it works that I’m a mix of two different shirts (since I am half Chinese and half “whitey”).
So I’m just taking this as my “I’m famous!” moment. And what a bonus — it’s also not next to a flashing light on the strip that says, “Girls, girls, girls.”
Tammy Soong is a writer, wife, and mom from Reno, Nevada. She takes an absurd amount of pain medication, but not enough to have actually named her children "Newt" and "Elfie." She spends most days stressing out over clutter, writing stuff for this place, and working on podcasts with her gal pals, the Blogging Betties.
Hey! You found something with your name! Cool. I rarely find anything with my name.__I can't complain too much, there is at least a song with my name in it. So what if it's from a corny 1960's musical.
I'm in a 1960's song too! "Tammy's in Love." When I was a kid, people seriously used to sing it to me every single time they met me and learned my name. Now a days, not so much.
I swear there's a song about EVERY common female name. My bad luck, my wife's name is Kathy, which makes me "Kathy's Clown".
OMG! I think we are too alike. I wanted to name my daughter Sunni also. More because of the gummi bear and that I wanted something to sound more Korean so my inlaws would have an easier time pronouncing it. And I thought it was cute. But hubby was not so keen on it. I mean, when I was 12 and planning on what to name my children, I never ever imagined my baby's daddy would have an opinion or get one for that matter.
Oh that's just too easy. Now I'm going to have to go look it up.
I can't believe that. Actually I can. No coincidence that we're friends.
I, too, wanted to name my daughter Sunni – short for Sunday. She is Chris….Sunni never happened. Nothing wrong with the name Tammy, tho' – unless you are a tank top! LOL! Fun post, thanks!__Huge green hugs,__Pat @ The Thrifty Frog Blog
Have you considered putting "the" in front of your name? Kind of fancy.
My recent post S is for Something
And try exchanging the name Tammy for Ginger…yeah there is always a joke about a stripper pole, a deserted island, and the neighbor's horse.
Thanks Pat! Sunday's cute. I never came up with that little connection. Really good idea.
THAT is funnier than you think. Some day I'm going to have to tell you guys to story of my mother and grandmother, who we actually called "the (name)" because they wielded so much power. I don't think I've achieved that level yet. But someday…
How do you always do this to me? Is it your mission in life to make me choke on my own spit or something?