My loquaciousness has always irritated my two older brothers, especially when i start up conversations in checkout lines. "Why are you talking with her," they constantly ask me. It's got to the point where I just ignore them.

I especially like starting conversations about the nametags of the young folks at the cash register check out.

Invariably, they are friendly and quite cordial, and i never pass up an opportunity to converse with the younger generation.

I've had some fascinating conversations regarding names, like the young Chilean kid with whom I once spoke at a 7-11 store in downtown Chicago. His name was Salvador. He told me in broken English that his Grand pa named him after the assassinated socialist leader Salvador Allende of Chile. Being a good socialist, his story brought a tear to my eyes.

This morning, I met a lovely, young, friendly African American girl named Brandi at my local grocers. "Do you like your name," I asked?
She frowned and said, "I have 10 siblings, all with really classy names like Jordan and Malcolm and Sonya. And i come along with Brandi? What the hell were you thinking, mom." Her reply was followed with a good hardy laugh.

The worst name I recall seeing on a nametag was Dymensia, worn by a restaurant worker in Peoria, Illinois. It sounds nice but all too close to the word dementia. That one left me speechless; I could not bring myself to ask the history on her naming.

I'm curious, is there anyone who recalls seeing any interesting names? I'm sure i can't be the only one that enjoys checking out nametags. Also, below, i posted a beautiful story on a Wisconsin girl named Marijuana, who refused to give up that name. The young lady has done quite well with her life. Check it out.

https://www.npr.org/2019/06/21/734839666/dr-marijuana-pepsi-wont-change-her-name-to-make-other-people-happy?fbclid=IwY2xjawMirY9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFrQ0tFMzdkSzB6OVRPMTlWAR6XuonGbR1YYsG0hRZ_DJvh0Ri1EZNWrNApDWN_YfBZQ1j7M2NqX_ExTCHRdg_aem_xwZYIvTw5PU7ZKJ1f6Ku2g