Not THAT Sharon Stone

I know that I am not the only person to share a name with a famous person.  I have a friend named Micheal Jackson, and there is a Paul Newman in my community circle. But the majority of you folks haven't had the experience of pausing every time you state your name, preparing for a joke, a giggle, or the question, "THEEE Sharon Stone?" This happens when making appointments over the phone, when introducing myself to strangers, and even once at the US/Canadian border crossing. Approaching the booth housing the border agent, I reached out my car window to flash my NEXXUS card at the electronic reader  - then the American border agent sauntered out with a goofy grin and said, "Well, if it isn't SHARON STONE!!" with an exaggerated, humor-laden tone. Like I'd never heard that before...

When I was a young adult, Sharon Stone the actress was just beginning to make her way in Hollywood. I was aware of her presence because my then-boyfriend-now-husband's father would send little movie ad clippings from the newspaper with her name highlighted.  Her first movies included an Indiana Jones parody among other little known projects. We laughed about it and moved on. Mark and I were married in the summer of 1992 - I had always intended to keep my own family name, Stone, and not take on his.  I was born Sharon Stone and no marriage was going to change who I essentially was - so why would I change my name that I had owned for 27 years?

Turns out that the Other Sharon Stone had a big summer in 1992 as well - her breakout movie, Basic Instinct hit the theaters and she became a huge celebrity and household name. Now....have YOU seen the film? If so, you might be blushing as your mind pictures that ground-breaking (or should I say leg-crossing? leg-uncrossing?) scene. If you haven't seen the movie, let me just say that Sharon Stone, lacking a certain undergarment, was the first woman that flashed some lady-bits that had never been seen on the mainstream silver screen before. When describing the scene with said bits people usually whisper the word or use some indirect description or euphemism - as any respectable person would do. That movie and That Sharon Stone may have complicated my life a bit, but they have also brought about some gut-spitting jokes and guffaw-inducing conversations among my crew.

Don't get me wrong, I admire That Sharon Stone for her talent, strength and activism.  She is a great role model for women, young and old, and embodies body positivity for all. I'm not unproud that we share a name. It would be nice, however, to make an appointment over the phone and not hear the pause, giggle and the question, "THEEE Sharon Stone?" I do find it interesting, when meeting new people, to introduce myself and get the raised eyebrows and engage in the conversation that goes down the path. The jovial banter often results in the new acquaintance, especially if they are of the male type, blushing at their mind's image. I have a pretty open sense of humor and don't mind engaging in slightly offensive exchanges (or very offensive, if you are a close friend). My pals and I have even coined a new term describing a person who, in a skirt, sits indelicately - not crossing their legs or keeping their knees tightly together.

I will admit that I always enjoy hearing, in a group conversation of raucous laughing women, "Hey! Don't pull a Sharon Stone!" to get the attention of someone who might not be sitting like a good little lady. Being a good little lady is overrated, anyway. Why not live in full joy and not worry about whether you are a good, or maybe a smidge naughty little lady?