Have you ever had one of those moments when you think you know someone’s name and then you realize that it is not their name?

“Hey there Shirley! Good to see you.”

“My name is Jessica…”

Awkward…

One evening in front of my neighbors house, I had one of these moments.

“Oh are you talking about Tom? The guy who lives down the street?”
“Tom!? Wait is his name Tom? I’ve been calling him Tim to his face for over two months now!”

Needless to say, I was mortified. The next time I say “Tom” I went to apologize.

“Tom, I am so sorry, I have been calling you Tim for over two months! Why didn’t you correct me? I would have called you the right name sooner!”

Tom looked up from the book he was reading and said to me, “Tom…Tim…ehh, they both work for me. I go by both. You heard me right the first time. I said Tim, not Tom. I don’t care much what you call me though.”

I threw my hands up in the air absolutely confounded.

Neighboring is a bit funny that way. It confounds and is strangely forgiving. So, don’t worry if you can’t remember your neighbors name or call them the wrong name. It is likely they are less worried about it than you.