October 2, 2009
The office
Seattle, Washington

“And what is your name, dear?” the pleasant, elderly British woman I was helping over the phone asked, as many do.
“Sarah,” I supplied.
“Oh, really?” she said, sounded vaguely surprised. “How do you spell that?”
“S-A-R-A-H,” I said, without thinking. It occurred to me mid-spell what an odd question that was. Had she thought I said a different name?
But, “That’s unusual,” she returned, to my confusion. “What nationality?”
“It’s ah, Hebrew in origin.” No one had ever asked me that before. They either already know or don’t think to care, since it’s so common.
“Well, it’s lovely,” she said warmly. “Thank you, Sarah.”

“You’re…welcome?”