Between starting a second job, family weddings, going to college, and all the various introductions that occur when you run into friends of friends when you live in a small town, I've been meeting a lot of new people lately.
Usually the introductions go something like this:
Me: "HI!" (In an almost frighteningly exuberant voice)
Other person: "Heeeey... I'm Alexander." (In a tone that reflects that this person is slightly confused by my exuberance. Note: The other person is not always named Alexander.)
Me: "Good for you, having a name like Alexander. I'm Jazmin!"
Other person, now known to be Alexander: "Okay... well, I'll catch you later."
Me: "Okey dokey (or something equally embarrassing), have a great day!"
Alexander: "Yeah, umm, you too."
Actually, they never go like that. Just kidding.
But I was thinking - what is an introduction, anyway? Usually it just involves saying whatever your parents decided to call you and then shaking hands. In normal, run of the mill greetings, you don't actually get introduced to the
person, you get introduced to the
name.
All of a sudden, that's a weird concept to me.
If I ever decided to lengthen the introduction process, to provide my name as the beginning of a conversation, not the end of one, because I would continue on to introduce myself as a person, not just a string of letters and sounds, I would probably say something like this:
Me: "HI!" (Not having learned from previous experiences, I again say this in an almost frighteningly exuberant voice)
Other person: "Heeeey... I'm Heathcliff." (Told you they're not always named Alexander!)
Me: Nice! Well, I'm Jazmin
, and (that's the turning point of the conversation, the signpost at the beginning of the trail to the top of the mountain of getting to know me, the warning sign that we're going to be friends, like it or not!)
No, I'm not the Disney Princess - seriously, the blonde hair didn't tip you off?
I'm probably too sarcastic for my own, or anyone else's, good. I'm also secretly more cynical than I have any right to be.
Note: I mock because I care. Seriously. I only poke fun at people I like. I know this is unreasonable, ridiculous, and hard to understand, and I'm working on it, but it's true.
However I do laugh at 90% of the jokes, puns, or witty sayings that I hear. That's probably one of the main reasons that people don't hate me.
Also, a warning: because of all the time I spend with small children (Elementary Ed majors for the win!), I tend to use pet names like "Honey" or "Dear" in everyday conversation. It's another one of those weird habits.
And I starting saying stupid things like "For the win!" and "Dude!" and "Legit!" "Baller" and "Bro" a while ago, no, I haven't been able to stop. Yes, I know it's silly.
It's especially silly because I hate abbreviations. A word is a word, you change the meaning of it when you chop it into pieces.
I talk a lot, probably too much, but I'll always listen to you when you need me to.
I'll respond to many different variations of Jazmin, and even to other names that don't have anything whatsoever to do with Jazmin. Yazmone, Jazminish, Jazmina, Jazzy, PaJazzle, Miss Jazmin, J-Dog, Jazzercise, J, Jazzy J, and the personal favorite of my family and some friends: Jaz.
I love to tell stories and jokes, and I'll always argue that telling a good one is all in the delivery.
I love people. I love Jesus. And I think those two things don't go together as often as they should.
I love making people smile, which is why I smile.
I love saying that I love things, because I love love.
And I think you're pretty great for letting me ramble on like this. It's nice to meet you, Heathcliff, now tell me about yourself."
Heathcliff: "Well, I live at an estate called Wuthering Heights..."
*You should also know that I tend to reference what I'm reading in everyday conversation, or what I write. =)
