Buddies tease me
because,
when I call them
on the phone,
I start with
“Hi (X)! This is (K).”
I do this
because I’m humble enough
not to expect them
to guess who I am
using my voice alone
(if they don’t have
caller ID,
and many lower income people
don’t have it
on their landlines).
I also do this
because it saves other people
the additional mental work
of trying to figure out
who is calling.
People are overloaded
with mental AND physical work
right now.
They’re still dealing with
the fallout of the pandemic.
They’re dealing with
the increasing impacts
of climate change.
They are likely understaffed
and overworked.
They have other worries.
They shouldn’t have to worry
about figuring out
who is calling them.
Extend them some grace.
Tell people
who you are
when you call them.
Don’t make them guess.