My name is Barbara and I work at a department store. I (work) there for one year when another Barbara joined the staff. Then I changed my name tag from "Barb" to "Barbie". made me feel funny was how small kids talked about me. "Is she really Barbie?" they asked. I changed it at my other job, too and began answering the phone, "This is Barbie. How can I help you?" The callers have gotten used to that over time, ninety percent of now respond with my name: "Barbie, can you tell me." Pronouncing that long "e" sound forces your mouth into a smile, but I have found the smile is usually returned voluntarily.
