Mispronouncing tamale-molly.

About three years ago, my boss' boss Willie started calling me "Tamale". She was passing through the department and stopped at my cube to say "did you know everytime I spell your name in outlook, it tries to correct me to "Tamale"?" I laughed "Yep, I know.."

Growing up with a name like mine wasn't easy. I always liked my name, but never understood why people didn't pronounce it right. "Pamela with a T." I would say in response. "Ta-ME-la" is what I was called the most. Just because it is spelled that way doesn't mean I want to be called that. How can Pamela be easy but Tamela isn't?

Substitute teachers were the worse. There was a 99% chance that if we had a sub, my name was going to be mispronounced. "Tampela" "Tamula" "Ta-ta-tam..-" "Tamela!" boys in the class would shout.

Josh Haffner would purposely mispronounce my name is Mr Lampy's class. He sat in front of me, turning around - his eyes teasing "TaaaaMEEElaaa...lemme copy." he would drive me crazy, and he knew it. Now I would give just about anything for him to do that again.

As an adult, I have grown used to it all.

Customers on the phone mispronounce my name as "Pamela" and I just agree "Uh huh." It really is no use. I'm too lazy to correct it. Co-workers will transfer me calls, "she asked for Pamela, I figured it was you."

But the Tamale nickname has taken on a life of it's own. Willie calling me Tamale was nothing new, I never even thought about it until one day when Kari (Easley) walked by my desk and said "Hey Tamale!" I looked at Julie and said "Wait, did she just call me Tamale?" I laughed "this person whom I've known since 7th grade is now calling me that!"

I asked Willie "Do you call me "Tamale" in your staff meetings?" "Yep, sure do."

Now about 97% of my floor calls me that. I don't mind, I embrace it. It's fun. I'll even joke when someone compliments my outfit "Yep, I'm one hot tamale!" Willie says I need a shirt with that phrase on it. I can't find one I like.

Sweeney switches it up, calling me "Tamale-molly" "Tamoolie" or just "Molly" when she's in a hurry.

Jen-Ben will be flying by for a quick hi - "Hi Ta-ME-la". I smile. For some reason, I don't mind it as much when she does it. Or maybe I'm just used to it.

As long as it's not Tammy or Tampon.