I have been getting a bit angry lately. I am not sure where in the conversation I said my name was Michael. I believe I said my name is Mike. It all started when I was twelve years old. I was growing up and didn’t want to be known as Michael anymore. That is what my mother called me when she got angry. I wanted to be a my own person, I wanted to be my true self. This was also the start of my interest in the entertainment business.
Michael was a shy, self-hating child who would rather shoot himself than to ask a girl out. Michael was afraid of his father and thought guys with long hair were weird. Okay, you think I am crazy. Well, I needed to grow up and be a better person. I rebelled against my own ways. This is when Mike was born. Now Mike was still shy but willing to come out of his shell. Still would rather shoot himself instead of going through the emotional hell of asking a girl out. Mike did however have more confidence himself, was no longer afraid of his father, and would love to take the room by storm. His comedy performances had all in stitches.
I had grown up, finally! I liked being called Mike. It was a name I chose for myself. Not my parents choice. It was the start of my independence. I grew my hair long. Can you believe it? By the time I graduated from High school my hair was way past my shoulders.
I bring all this up because there is a reason why I want you to call me Mike. There is meaning behind the name. If I meet you and tell you my name is Mike then I expect you to respect my wishes and call me Mike. Is that so difficult? I mean it takes less time to say Mike than Michael. If relatives call me Michael, I understand, it is out of habit but when my boss or a co-worker calls me Michael it really pisses me off! Where in the meeting did I say call me Michael? Try never. Eight years and it’s Michael? Should I correct them, again?
How about new people I meet? Where in the conversation, when I met you, does Mike sound like Michael? Do I mumble? Is there another language coming out of my mouth that I am unaware of? Maybe I asked you to call me Mike for a reason. I sign my name Mike, I sign my checks with Mike.Perhaps they feel that if they call me Mike then it makes them feel like I’m a buddy of theirs. Michael is more formal. Perhaps they feel if they respect my wishes they loose some control. After all by not calling me by the name I ask them to, they do get control when they say "Michael" because I stupidly respond with a "Yeah?". Maybe if I ignore them they will get the point or I will just come off as rude?
Perhaps tomorrow, when I hear the name Michael, I’ll turn around and with all the power I have inside I will say a resounding "Yeah?". Well, maybe they got the point now.
Copyright COPYRIGHT 2011 Mike M Burke / Mystic Night Pictures
