Email Address Retirement

I have three email addresses. The one I've had since I was fourteen, the one I was given when I got to university and the one I use when I want to pretend I'm a professional. Because I'm forgetful, I forward all of my accounts to a single account. That way, I always get my mail. Here's the thing, when I'm replying to all of my emails, I forget that they're being forwarded and reply from my personal email, also known as the email I've had since I was fourteen.

If you glance through some of my posts, you'll see plenty of evidence of my particular brand of humour. Ditzy with some Stupid and more than a dash of Random. Imagine what that sense of humour was like when I was fourteen and opening my first email account. Yeah, my email address is fantastically stupid.

Normally it doesn't bother me. I'm fully aware that I could start using my other accounts, the ones that make me seem like a grown up.The reason I've kept my goofy email address all these years is because it's impossible to take myself too seriously when I have to tell people that my personal account is: ... I'm not going to write it... that would be silly. Just imagine something really gooney and you're probably close. Most people laugh, ask me about it and when I tell them, they nod along. I've never known it to be an issue. I don't use it for job searching or official documents.

And then tonight happened and I have to admit, I'm a little embarrassed. I just emailed a prof that I've never met, who is taking a chance on me, on a thread that will likely be seen by the prof heading up the grad studies department for history, from my goofy email. My email address is named for a character I made up with my friends. In case your curious, this character was male, snotty, evil and consisted only of a floating head and hands. Now that inspires confidence. Also, we were clearly weird kids.

Imagine a professor:

"Yes, I feel Lauren has the academic background and writing skills necessary to complete a project on the extremely serious topic of Nazi doctors. Wait... her email is what? You're kidding right? Wow... forget that."

Head-desk. They don't know I'm a dork yet! Well... they do now, but I wanted to show them in person!

I like me old email. It makes me happy and it's really easy to type. But perhaps it's time I started using a grown up address. Everyone grows up right?

Shut up Peter! You don't count! Incidentally, if no one grows up in Neverland, how are there adult pirates? I can't remember, are grown ups allowed to go to Neverland or do they get kicked out when they become sexually aware like in Narnia? It's true... happens to Susan in Prince Caspian. She gets a crush and then she gets the boot- or the paw... from Aslan. I suppose Peter gets kicked out because he's older than Susan and therefore thought to be more sexually mature... meh.

Anyway... to change or not to change (emails), that is my question.

Lauren.