As I was getting into my car last night, I saw Pradeep, a contractor from India who works with me. I know it’s shocking to hear of a computer company that hires Indian contractors, but I’m not even making this up. Sometimes truth really is stranger than fiction.

Pradeep’s car wouldn’t start, and I ended up helping him. Helping him, that is, by calling AAA. Did you expect anything more? I’m just not a knowlegable car girl. Or a knowlegable sports team girl. That’s just how it goes folks, much to the chagrin of the men I date.

Anyway, today he wrote me a thank you email.

Before we proceed, let me provide you with a little background information. My name is Cherie Turner. Well, to be honest, that’s not my real last name. Are you crazy? Hellooooooo, there’s identity theft everywhere, and I refuse to be another statistic. But let’s just pretend that it’s my name for the sake of the story.

Here’s his email:

To: Cherie Turner

From: Pradeep Ponuswamishah

Hi Turner,

Thanks a million for your help last night. I will never forget this help to the very final end.

Cheers,

Pradeep

Awwww, thanks Pradeep. Or I guess I should say thanks Ponuswamishah. Apparently that’s how people refer to each other in Indian business talk. I’m not really used to being called “Turner”. But hey, who am I to argue? “Turner” it is. To the very final end.