Monday, November 15, 2010
Searching for Myself
I decided to do that recently. It's handy because I like to know if anyone is talking about me. They usually aren't. But in case anyone ever does, I'll know about it.
Not long after I set up the Google Alert, I opened my daily email to read: "Karen Peterson died yesterday."
Despite having been even more tired and run down that usual, I was fairly certain that I had not, indeed, died. So I went on to read more about this (not much) older woman who had died of cancer and left behind a devoted husband and children.
As if reading an obituary with my name on it wasn't traumatic enough, a few days later I saw something even more horrifying: State Senator, Karen Peterson, Delaware 9th District, Democrat.
Reminding myself that an untimely death was far more likely than my becoming a Democrat, I took a deep breath.
I was curious. So I googled my name. And found all sorts of interesting Karen Petersons around the country.
There's Karen Peterson the medium who helps families contact lost loved ones.
And Karen Peterson who started Karen Peterson and Dancers, a non-profit organization that brings together "mixed-ability" dancers to perform in the community.
Of course there's that Delaware State Senator....
Probably the one that made me laugh the most was Dr. Karen Peterson, Associate Professor of Nutrition and Society, Human Development, and Health at... are you ready for this? Harvard. I laughed as I imagined myself teaching about nutrition to students in the Ivy League. Hilarious!
There are realtors, professors, a cartoon animator, several doctors and at least one practicing attorney.
And then there's me. A small-time blogger. A writer who has never been published anywhere except the high school newspaper when it was little more than a two-page flier. Front desk girl in a small tutoring center at a small community college.
I always thought my name was boring. But it turns out, it's kind of a lot to live up to. And I haven't been doing that so well.
It's time to start. It's time to do something that will land me higher than page 3 on a Google search.
And I'm starting today.
Although, I might make a quick phone call first. There's this Karen Peterson in San Antonio that helps people change their life through hypnosis...
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That is cool! I need to set up Google alerts for my name and blog name. I'm sure things will pop up daily about how awesome I am.
ReplyDeleteI have put my name and my kids names in the search engines. Some of my kids names in the 1800's were writers.
ReplyDeleteI have come up dead like you and also some things that I have really done have come up too. Fun!
Thanks. I did the same as you suggested and my actual identity came up right away via Twitter, Blogger, etc. However, my name is very uncommon- Shaharizan Perez.
ReplyDeleteInsightful post!
You sure you don't want to take credit for the mixed ability dancing? Is that a nice way of saying there are middle aged white dudes in the dance troupe?
ReplyDeleteFun! I'll have to set up a Google Alert. Though I haven't really found anyone else with my name. When I Google myself, and just find...me.
ReplyDeletethat is pretty cool. I have found myself a few times on the internet with my married name, but not my maiden name which bummed me out.
ReplyDeleteIf I google my name without the middle initial, I don't come up at all. If I add my middle initial, though, my blog is the first entry. I must try this google alert thing, though.
ReplyDeleteHa! I've actually interviewed the SA Karen Peterson for work before!
ReplyDeleteSo far, even after all these years, I'm one of the very few people with my name. If I Google myself, I'm actually number 4 on the list. But then it's some sleazy "rate your doctor" website. Which, thankfully, I haven't irritated anyone enough that they actually want to rate me.
ReplyDeleteI show up in page 1. But it's through my husband's website, I think. That feels very 1950's to me. Minus the Google part.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I ever told you, but you are actually the second friend I have had with the name Karen Peterson. She was cool too, but not as cool as you!
ReplyDeleteThat's one perk of having an unusual name/spelling. No oneupmanship. lol!
ReplyDeleteI just Googled myself and, apparently, I'm married to my fav bro who uses my home for a mailing address.
yah. When I google myself I come up first. the real me. AND MY ANONYMOUS BLOG. With my name on it.
ReplyDeletesigh, so much for anonymity!
Oh this is fun. I have google alert but I haven't been alerted yet. I guess that could be a good thing!
ReplyDeleteKaren Peterson the Democrat.
ReplyDeleteHee.
Fun idea!
ReplyDeleteLoved the comment about the Democrat Senator. So funny!
I don't think Karen Peterson is more boring than Emily Clark. :)
Very interesting. I don't know if I want to know who is searching for me.
ReplyDeleteI was named after my great grandmother, and her funeral was the most surreal experience. Seriously bizarre to keep hearing my name in relation to death!
ReplyDeleteAnd now, thanks to you, I'm setting up a Google alert! Ha! Like I needed that! :)
There was a Kelli Moss who was arrested for a DUI for getting drunk on putting too much vanilla in her coke. Not a bad idea, but it wasn't me. And Karen the democrat was certainly the most horrifying! That made me laugh!
ReplyDeleteYou could always make some comments about frozen waffles.
ReplyDeleteIt worked for me!
How interesting!! I think i'm off to google to try this now!!
ReplyDeleteI finally deleted the google alert for my name. There is a realtor who shares it and she was written about all the time. When you were growing up were you always one of many Karens like I was? It drove me crazy.
ReplyDeleteGoogle Alert seems like it could help me find all my alter egos. I wonder if I can find a Sarah Day out there who will clean my house? Definitely off to find out.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you didn't die! You and Mark Twain ... Good company!
ReplyDeleteI love googling myself (I know, it sounds dirty ...). There aren't a lot of people with my name, so 90% of the things that pop up are actually me. Luckily, I'm still alive. :-)
Mostly, I get my Facebook account and articles I wrote when I was a reporter.
That would be quite an email update.
ReplyDeleteBetter than a tweet about your own death though.
When I google my name, I just get a load of kids on bebo. Bit depressing really.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm sure one day it'll just be me for pages and pages, right...