Why don’t I use names?

I’m sure that some of you have noticed that I use very few names on here. It’s entirely intentional, and there are a few reasons I made the decision to do it this way.

One, I think people should have the option of deciding if they want their names to appear in here or not. A few of them have given me permission (like my best friend. Hi, Gretchen!), but I haven’t asked everyone about it. There are some of them that I’m probably never going to ask. My grandfather, for instance. The man has barely learned the term “internet,” so I’m not even going to attempt to explain a blog to him.

Two, I really, really like privacy. It’s an interesting balance, trying to be a semi-public figure and yet trying to maintain a private life. I feel pretty good about my progress, though.

Three, I realized I don’t actually use names that often. This was quite a realization for me, but it’s just how I am. When I’m talking about my husband, for example, even to friends and family, I generally say things like “Honey and I went to the store,” or “my honey took the girls out to the movies.” When I’m addressing our daughters, I usually refer to them by one of their many nicknames. Years ago, one of my bosses finally asked me (after six or so months of employment) if my husband even had a name, since I never used it when I was talking about him. 

Finally, I think it’s a little easier for the new readers. Those of you who have followed me from the beginning, or have taken the time to read all of my posts, would be able to keep track of who’s who. But, for the new readers, I think it’s more difficult. If I randomly start talking about Jill, they’re going to have no idea if I’m talking about a daughter, a friend, a pet, my mother, an aunt, etc. I’d rather stick with using the relationships for ease of reading.

So, if you were wondering why I don’t use names, that’s why. 🙂