Growing up with a not-so-common name meant finding something personalized was going to be a noteworthy event.
That never happened. Of course someone could pay to print my name on a t-shirt or pen, but you didn’t find one in a store ready to go. I can’t explain why that mattered, but it did. A lot. For my friends with unusual names, such as Fonda, it mattered too. So I know I’m not alone in this.
My brother knew it was important to me, and when he had his chance to get me something pre-personalized, if you will, he went to unusual lengths to get it.
He was backpacking in New Zealand, and there in the grocery store window was a poster advertising “the latest fruity member of the popsicle band,” Belinda Blackberry.
With her slick haircut and wide-eyed smile, this singing sensation’s picture was destined to hang on the walls of my apartment. There was no doubt.
It took some persuasion and few phone calls to the right people, but my brother convinced the bewildered Tip-Top distributor to give it to him. Apparently the name Belinda is far more common in New Zealand than it is in America, so this man was skeptical of my brother’s insistence I would value the poster because it had my name on it.
I bet that man would be shocked, and maybe get a good laugh, if he knew that today, some thirty years later, this ad has been framed and now hangs over my desk at home, to keep me cheery on gloomy days.
No one could appreciate it more than me, for the name as well as the inconvenience & expense my brother was willing to go through to get it mailed to me. And oh yes, the pure camp value of the ad itself.
Thanks go to Tip-Top products, New Zealand’s premier producer of ice cream products & frozen treats. And they know nothing about this post. I’m just sincerely grateful they gave my brother that poster!
My World With Words 
Aw, that is so sweet of your brother!
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Yeah, he’s a good guy!
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Love it…and she does have the same hairdo as you!
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Ha ha — hopefully my bangs are a little longer!
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There’s just something about seeing your name. Wow, what an awesome thing your brother did.
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It really was. He’s an awesome guy. I’m staring at that poster right now and after all these years it still makes me smile.
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Hi, I live in New Zealand and funnily enough remember that campaign!! I’ve shared your blog on my FB page , hopefully a Tip Top personal will read it😀😀
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I would love that! I’m sure they’d get a good laugh out of it (at least I hope they would!). That poster has meant so much to me.
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I totally understand this. My name is Katherin (with no “e”). I’ve never seen this on anything and usually have to settle for Kathy. I’ve kinda cursed my kids with common sounding, yet uniquely spelled names they probably won’t find on pre-produced merchandise, either. It’s funny what things make us feel better 🙂
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Especially growing up, this mattered. Now it’s not as important, although I think I’d be compelled to buy anything I saw with my name on it. Except trashy novels. There have been a number of those!
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Ha! Who knew that “Belinda” is a common trashy novel name?
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My grandparents, who never liked my name, would say they did, but other than that, I don’t know!
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