Can I Be Real A Second?

For just a millisecond?

Let down my guard

And tell the people how I feel a second?

My apologies to Lin-Manuel Miranda, but that's what popped into my head when I started to write this, and, if I'm learning anything about this new blogging habit, it's that when good words come to mind, you write them down. Even if they're someone else's.

Anyway, I didn't come here today to toss "Hamilton" lyrics at you; I came here to talk about something that, to be honest, drives me a little bit insane. Even worse than people who misspell my name.

What's In A Name?

Spent some time last week before the opening of the new school year thinking about this tweet from @thel0rdbyr0n:

Friendly reminder for teachers starting school this week to have your students say their names to you first so that the pronunciation comes from them, and also don't settle for "close enough", you can get their name right

— Nate ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (@thel0rdbyr0n) September 2, 2018

This practice is something that I've followed for years, although, I confess, not always explicitly for the reasons that Nate and others in the thread put forth. (Give the thread a read--it's worth your time.)