8. Names I am most often called by telemarketers: Simone, Slain, Siobhon, Flo, Stacey, Susan, Slater, Leanne, and Slow. (Yes, my parents named me "Slow.")
-- I Was Told There'd be Cake by Sloane Crosley, from an essay called "Bastard out of Westchester."
Crosley's essays about growing up in the suburbs of New York and her post-college single days in the city are charming enough on a chilly weekend. Nothing is gut-busting funny; but nothing is in off-putting bad taste either.
My favorite essay is the one quoted above in which she muses on her name. Having an unusual name myself -- Gilion Dumas -- I could relate to every one of the funny experiences on her list. Telemarketers typically call me Jillian (I pronounce mine with a hard G), Julianne, Geeyon, or Garion. And, of course, we all know how they say my last name.
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