After being named one of the most popular names of the year (and a name she to this day, still hates), she was determined to not do the same thing. One of her favorite songs was Sweet Melissa. What a pretty name she thought. Then she told my dad she was sure it was my name. She obviously wasn’t the only person who had this thought in 1980. In fact, the top five names in 1980 were Melissa, Lauren, Elizabeth, Jessica and Rebecca. All but Jessica were on her list, because that was the dogs name. She also was convinced Melissa couldn’t be shortened. Snort. My mom is a funny lady.

My middle name is Ann. Yeah. Original, huh? It’s after my great grandma. If you ask my dad, it’s spelled Anne. However, he spelled it wrong on my birth certificate and so it’s just Ann.

My last name? Well lets just say, when my great-grandma and great-great grandpa escaped from Poland and came to America, they decided to fully become Americans. They changed our name to one of the most common American names around.

All this is lovely and fine. I’ve always loved my name. I’ve loved that people can spell it, say it and pronounce it without being told. Their were four Melissa’s in my graduating class…of 68 people. But whatever. Another me, uses the same Walgreens that I do. They always make me give my social and birthday to pick up prescriptions. No biggie. I find it funny actually.

Yesterday though, it was annoying. Yesterday I came home from California and nearly missed my flight. Even though, I was there super early. I went to check my bag and for some reason the guy didn’t give me my ticket, he gave me someone else’s. That someone had my exact name. She however, was going to Vegas. The annoying thing was that I handed the guy my Colorado license and said, I’m going to Denver. He didn’t want to see my reservation paper that I had out for him. As I walked away with a ticket, he said, have a nice trip back to Denver. Now, I’m dumb and slow. Especially at 7:30am and without having had coffee. So I don’t even bother to look at the ticket. He told me gate 22 and when I got to the right area, I looked at the screen…because I nearly missed my flight last year, because of a silly mistake like that. Anyway, I see that my flight is actually at gate 24 and I go sit there. Whatever, it was early, was my thinking. Maybe he hadn’t had any coffee yet either.

I sit with my coffee and mess around with my brand new, shiny, amazingly awesome Kindle. (Oh yeah, baby.) I don’t put my headphones on, because I’m scared to miss hearing an announcement. When my flight is called, I go stand in the cattle call line, that Southwest prefers. I’m all happy to be B6, thinking that for once, I may not have to sit in the middle. I hand the man my ticket and start to walk away. Problem is, he calls me back. Yep, it took that long for me or anyone to notice that my flight ticket says I’m going to Vegas. In three hours. Sigh. They send me over somewhere else, to prove that I’m supposed to be going where the reservation paper in my hand says.

I made the flight, but hey, middle seat. They also guaranteed me that my bag would be going to Vegas. Somehow I got lucky. They must have managed to get it on last second, because it was the first bag off. ha. Happy birthday to me.

Moral of the story? If your name is so dam common? CHECK AND DOUBLE CHECK EVERYTHING. Ahem.

ps. Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes. You have no idea how amazing it was to get emails, texts, tweets, DM’s and Facebook notices all day. You helped make it a great day. Love and hugs to all of you.