Do you have an alter ego?
What role does your alter ego play?
My alter ego and writing moniker is Sammy D., short for Sammy Detroit.
Ten years ago, Sammy Detroit emerged under unusual circumstances and quickly became my constant companion. She is my silly, whimsical, artistic, operating-without-underpants self. She gives me a voice and courage that I otherwise lack. I am forever grateful I discovered her.
In 2003, I retired early from my profession. Still needing health insurance, I began working halftime at a bank. My fellow tellers Jen, Sara, Nick, and Nancy were young enough to be my children. That didn’t deter us from forming the bonds that come from serving an often ungrateful, inexplicably bitchy customer base. It never ceased to amaze me how irate a customer (usually female!) might become when asked for her ID.
“I’ve been coming here for XX years. Why do you need to see my ID?”
“I apologize, ma’am, but I’m a new teller, and haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you. May I see your ID, please?”
“I’ve NEVER had to show my ID. Why do YOU have to see it?”
“I apologize for the inconvenience, but I need to confirm you are the account holder since you want to withdraw cash from an account.”
“Well THAT (pointing down the line) teller knows me. Go ask her.”
I walk six feet to my left to interrupt Sara who has a long line of customers. Sara glances at the woman and whispers she has no clue who that woman is.
Great.
“I’m sorry, ma’am, Sara does not recognize you. If I may please see your ID, I can give your money to you without further delay.”
“Why do you people keep getting new tellers? Every time I come in here, it’s a new teller. I’m sick of you asking for my ID when I’ve been coming here for XX years.”
“Ma’am, I apologize for the staff turnover. I’m trying to protect your account. I’m sure you don’t want me giving money from your account to someone else who refuses to show me her ID.”
“Of course not, but why do I have to show you my ID?”
(Sound of my forehead pounding repeatedly on counter)
Who doesn’t need a little comic relief after encounters like that?
Jen was our ringleader in the Silly Pants department. She was 20 years young, whipsmart, vivacious, pretty face, long blonde hair, skinny-with-boobs, and a couple of strategically placed tattoos. Older men ogled her and made fools of themselves; young men asked her out; women wanted to be her.
She was our very own sprightly, sexy Tinkerbelle sprinkling her la-di-da fairy dust whenever we got too bogged down by the daily grind. One afternoon lull, the time of day we wished we were anywhere but behind the counter, Jen piped up,
“Hey guys, you ever do your stage names?”
Blank stares …
“You know, your STAGE NAMES?”
Blank stares …
“Take the name of your first pet”
Sammy
“Followed by the name of the first street you lived on”
Detroit
“THAT’S YOUR STAGE NAME !!!”
The 5 of us were:
Sammy Detroit
Whiskey Nine
Sam Madison
Bunny Naples
Sparky Cimarron
I swear, we could have performed that night in Guys & Dolls.
Between 2003 and 2014, Sammy Detroit has taken me to many corners of the world – places I never expected to see; people I never expected to meet. Some journeys have been richly imagined from the comforts of home, and some actually experienced with family and friends.
Sammy Detroit is my BFF.
She helps me imagine more fully, cope more easily, write more creatively, and dwell on the silly side of the street.
bemuzin 
Comments on: "Name Game – Part 1" (27)
I have so many split personalities it is a good thing they all get along or else I would beat myself daily.
Zoey D is a new one though, thanks to Sammy D!
Wonderful story! Now I will have to try and remember my first pets name and the street I lived on. Oh wow, that was a lot of years ago.
Zoey D? Are we sisters ? ⛄️☀️ thanks for stopping. You and all your personalities take care.
Thanks, Jackie. Let me know when it comes to you. I love the variety of names!
Mine would be Wanda Mayon then. LOL That sounds funny. :p
😊. Wanda Mayon!! Try it for a few days and see if an alternate personality starts to emerge. Keep me posted. LOL
Mine would still be Maj Pain…………………………or Jack
Sure ……. Zeus……
Funny story. It is frustrating when we don’t get recognized after visiting so many times.
Hey, I left you a note on the <100 Followers page of the A – Z Challenge blog. Please take a moment to share your thoughts with me on it. Thanks.
MJ, A to Z Challenge Co-Host
Writing Tips
Effectively Human
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Thanks for stopping by, and for your work to make A to Z challenge a success. I will head over ther to see your comment.
That’s a GREAT story very well told. You are a very patient person. I would have been head-banging much sooner…some people just think that they are privileged for whatever reason. I usually THANK the people who ask for my ID because it makes me feel SAFE that they are checking. It’s kinda scary, but now that my son is driving, I got a duplicate debit card, with my name on it, with the bank’s full approval, and he uses it all over town when he’s running errands for me. No one notices a girl’s name on a card used by a 16 year old??? Heaven help us…
Thanks for coming by Life is Good, and for your very sweet comments about my unveiling post. I appreciate you taking the time to read. I did come across a question at the Challenge Blog, and I think it was yours…but I can’t find it now to answer it. If it was you, please email me at tndowney at gmail you know the rest…and ask again. You can also use the info@ address (both of these are under the contact tab) because I answer that one for the team.
Glad to meet another fine participant! Good luck in the Challenge, and I look forward to getting to know you better.
Since I’m Swedish, my stage name is Jasper Bäckvägen…pronounced Jasper Beck-veh-gen. However, I don’t do alter egos, and for a very good reason, but that’s a story for another day…
Tina @ Life is Good
A to Z Team @ Blogging From A to Z April Challenge 2014
Jasper Backvagen … and Tina… thank you for compliments and info. I have emailed you with longer message. Have a great weekend!
Oh, and I was going to add you to the <100 Blogs tab at the A-Z Challenge blog and saw you were already there! I hope it brings you lots more visitors. Congrats on your brand new blog! Joining the Challenge is a great way to begin.
Tina @ Life is Good
A to Z Team @ Blogging From A to Z April Challenge 2014
“Boo Boo Lawndale.” Great. Now I know what’s been the matter with my writing career.
Boo Boo Lawndale coukd get into all kinds if mischief 🙂
She did. 😉
I love this. I would be Muggsie Thompson….LOL! You made my day
Muggsie – see? You could star in Guys and Dolls with us. LOL “cue music now”
Oh Dear!! I’ m Tigger Trafalgar…. What kind of a tramp am I? Lol. Great piece, a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Awww that’s so cute ; can I call you Tig?!? Thanks so much for stopping by. I will do the same!
Tig or Tigs is fine, yes. Have decided I will work on this floozy of a character for a bit of fun. Ha ha ha.
The only alter ego I have is this fat gentleman that lives inside me. His name depends on his mood and his level of hunger. Sometimes he is Peter, sometimes Harold, and when he wants to eat like a slovenly animal he is simply Hank.
That deserves a telling on how those/that guy came about! Hunger is a strange motivator, eh? I have a bazillion nicknames and alter egos and will post about them eventually. It’s part of what helps me tap into my creative side (which hasn’t been easy for me),
Thank you so much for your visits and comments. I truly appreciate them!
Love your bank story! So funny! I prefer to have people ask for my ID. I don’t need some impostor emptying my account. My stage name would be Sandy Irish. Hmmm… I like that. A new character is coalescing in my mind as I write this. 🙂
Hi Sandy Irish – oh, yes I can totally picture you 🙂 i hope you Do flesh her out. I’ve always thought it’d be fun to develop our stage name personas. Well, I guess I have by using mine as my writing moniker ! Thanks fir stopping by!
Hahaha, I love it! Toby Trimble here. Is that a great name or what? My husband can’t ever figure out why he has to give his ID with his credit card when he buys something for $6. I always tell him to be quiet, but he always asks why they need it.
Toby Trimble – that’s a good one; you can join the Guys ‘n Dolls gang!!
I think I remember helping your husband at the bank 😘