I have a confession: I am horrible with names. Beyond horrible actually. If you tell me your name, I will forget it in less than 10 seconds. That’s a guarantee, forgotten in 10 seconds or less or your money back.

This has never been much of a problem until recently. Since starting my new job I’ve met tons of people and, since my job is client services, I really should be remembering all of their names. But I can’t. I shake their hands and politely introduce myself to them and then Wham! forget their name as soon as they say it. It’s even worse when I’m on the phone with a person. They introduce them self and my ears blank out their name. “Hi this is cricket sounds and I’m calling…”

You would think in my private life I might make more of an effort to remember people’s names, but I don’t. Since joining Trapeze Arts I’ve met a bunch of people and can’t tell you one of their names. The sad part is that now I’ve seen them enough times that I can’t ask their names, that would be rude and weird. So I’m stuck waiting for someone else to call our their name so I can make a mental note of it.

Seems tiring doesn’t it? It really is. I spend a lot of time eavesdropping on conversations in the hopes that I’ll learn a name or two. I don’t know why I have this block against learning names and even when I have the best intentions to remember them, it seems I can’t.

On the other hand, I really am a nosy person and I love having a half way decent reason to eavesdrop. Maybe I unconsciously don’t learn people’s names so I can continue to do this guilt free. dear god, that’s sick and I might want to get some help.

Barista: “Can I get your drink started?”
me: “Yes, I’ll have a venti, nonfat, iced latte”
Barista: “And your name?”
me: “Regan”
Barista: “Okay, it’ll be at the end of the bar”

Only when I get to the end of the bar there is no nonfat, iced, latte for Regan, but there is one for Bargen. I’ve had my name misspelled and mispronounced lots of times, but this was by far the worst. Ever.