Let me reveal a character flaw. I hate it when I have a great idea that I don’t act upon and later discover that someone else has done it with success. Darn you Jim Killeen! If you don’t know Jim, he’s the author and actor of a new documentary called Google Me.
The film documents Jim’s adventures as he locates others named Jim Killeen. I recommend it.
The first time I experienced a name coincidence I was a girl watching the 1976 Summer Olympics. The games took place in Montreal and one Tammy MacLeod was competing for the Canadian diving team. That year, she finished 14 in the women’s platform event but it didn’t matter. In my proud mind, she was golden.
Years later, my friend Brum brought me a magazine from his South American travels that detailed the life of Chilean Gaucha, Tamara McLeod, who lives with her husband and horses in Patagonia. I was amazed and convinced that there were three of us in the world.
Fast forward to the era of new media with Google, Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter. I started to realize there were others but in October of 2009, I began receiving accolades from friends around the world for my Sudoku prowess. Sure, I like to play Sudoku and I also do crosswords but I soon found out that one, Tammy McLeod had just snatched the National Championship. Feeling smug, I went online to locate this smart, healthy, and talented woman who is both puzzler and young mom in order to offer my own congratulations.
Soon after I’m drawn into a world where all flowers go by the same name. There’s Tammy McLeod, Chaplain at Harvard. Here is a quote from her site: “Spiritual formation is a passion of mine. I enjoy listening to peoples’ stories, journeying with them and helping them to see the movement of God in their lives. I like to teach about making space for God through silence, solitude, Sabbath-keeping, meditation on Scripture, listening prayer, fasting, daily examine, and other spiritual disciplines.” I instantly want to know her.
Another athlete graces our roll. This time, Tammy McLeod, a Canadian boccia champion who not only accurately places the ball but does so from her wheel chair. Tammy claimed third in the Paralympics and reminds us that paralympics doesn’t mean paralyzed but parallel.
Tammy McLeod in Auckland, New Zealand is full-time partner in a law firm – another working mom. She’s planning to write a cookbook and in the interim is hoping that her food blog will satisfy some of that desire.
Finally, one of our ranks lost her brave battle one year ago in the UK. Like Lou Gehrig, because her illness was so rare, doctors have named it after her; Tammy McLeod Syndrome. What struck me was not the uniqueness of her condition but the strength of her character and the joy that she portrayed to others thoughout.
There are many others and their exclusion certainly doesn’t diminish their contributions to this world or the name. I can’t explain why I wanted to write this post if only to boast that I am amongst a wise and impressive group of women. Hopefully, I’ll have the opportunity to meet each of them one day.
But Jim Killeen beat me to the bigger story.
Tincture of Roses
Agrigirl's Blog 
nrhatch
/ July 17, 2010Excellent post, Tammy!
Sound like the Tammy McLeod’s of the world have got what it takes!
Tammy McLeod
/ July 17, 2010They are a group that I’m proud to be among.
Meanlittleboy
/ July 17, 2010very enjoyable read!!cheers uncle dennis
Tammy McLeod
/ July 17, 2010Thanks Larry err, dennis?
Kathleen Bartolomei
/ July 17, 2010My dear,
You continue to select a theme to teach, inspire and delight! I do hope you forward your blog on to the others. And I do hope you add them to your bucket list! What a powerful way to celebrate the sacred in the ordinary … and what a wonderful tradition and legacy to establish for your sons.
p.s Meg just bought me Jamie’s new book! Can hardly wait to share it with you and the budding chefs. I can see the blog and pix already!
Bravo! Bravo!
Encore! Encore!
kb
Tammy McLeod
/ July 17, 2010I like your words of celebrating the sacred in the ordinary. Thanks and enjoy that book.
Tes
/ July 17, 2010Beautiful post! I’m so glad to have something nice to read in the morning 🙂
Tammy McLeod
/ July 17, 2010Thank you Tes.
Hannah
/ July 17, 2010What a beautiful concept and how well you wrote about it! Thank you 🙂
Tammy McLeod
/ July 17, 2010And thanks for reading Hannah.
isathreadsoflife
/ July 18, 2010This was a great Sunday morning reading, Tammy. Wonderful amongst other wonderful people/homonymes. Thank you so much, I look forward looking at the blogs and information.
Tammy McLeod
/ July 18, 2010Thank you Isa. I’m a little embarrassed that I didn’t think about using the word homonymes – thanks for that.
dianescholten
/ July 18, 2010Fun post, Tammy! I have a friend, Melissa Ross, who looked up her name on Facebook and found another Melissa Ross (my friend is in Californina, her name-counterpart is in Australia) and they’re FB friends – funny reading their posts back and forth!
Tammy McLeod
/ July 18, 2010My brother in law had a bad experience where he became FB friends with someone with the same name and they posted something totally inappropriate on his wall. People thought it was my BIL. Small risk though and at least there’s the delete key. I’m really fascinated with each of these women.
Estrella Azul
/ July 18, 2010Such a great post, enjoyed reading it; too bad the video isn’t available here.
Oh, and I have to try that rose tincture soon! 🙂
Tammy McLeod
/ July 18, 2010Do let me know if you try it. In fairness, I have not. I used to have roses and don’t any longer but I do have a neighbor with some.
Sophie
/ July 18, 2010Indeed, what a lovely & well written post!
I am always looking forward to your special & informative posts!
I thoroughly enjoy them!
Many hand waves & kisses from Brussels!
Tammy McLeod
/ July 18, 2010Thanks for reading them Sophie.
Brum Darling
/ July 18, 2010I can’t believe you remembered the Chilean Gaucho!!
Tammy McLeod
/ July 18, 2010And they person who gave it to me!
Velva
/ July 18, 2010This was a great post-what a world we live in 🙂
Tammy McLeod
/ July 18, 2010It’s true – isn’t it. Before the internet, it took extremely rare and random coincidence to provide something like this.
bermudaonion
/ July 18, 2010What fun! It seems that everyone who shares your name is quite talented. Since my first name is Kathy and both my maiden and married names are common, I’ve actually met quite a few run of the mill folks with my same name.
Tammy McLeod
/ July 18, 2010When I was very young, it was such a thrill to meet someone who shared my first name. I never even imagined that it would be like this later.
nursemyra
/ July 18, 2010The video isn’t available here 😦
Tammy McLeod
/ July 18, 2010ooh. Here meaning my blog? or here meaning accessing it from Australia?
Tammy
/ July 18, 2010Hi Tammy
what a great post!! Fabulous name :0) McLeod is actually my married name – I used to be a Ferguson. Sounds like Tammy McLeods are taking the world over!
Tammy McLeod
/ July 18, 2010So very glad that you came by to see it. Ferguson’s not a bad name either as many folks have told me that I look like Prince Andrew’s ex. Love your blog.
nancy at good food matters
/ July 18, 2010the name game is fun, and fascinating. I haven’t come across any Nancy Vienneaus in the south, but see that there are many in Nova Scotia!
google has transformed information access, enhancing our connectedness in remarkable ways, just as blogging gives us the opportunity to make those nice connections. :0)
Thanks for this post; I’ll watch Jim Killen’s documentary all the way through, when I have more time!
Tammy McLeod
/ July 18, 2010Well, I must say you are the only Nancy Vienneaus that I have come across but you’re right, the internet has shrunk so much of our world.
OysterCulture
/ July 18, 2010Wow, that settles it, I need to seek out all the Tammy McLeod’s I can find. The world is a much better place because of them.
Tammy McLeod
/ July 18, 2010Funny LouAnn. Thanks for reading. I’ll try to uphold my part.
Lisa H
/ July 18, 2010What fun! There is actually a woman who lives on my street with the same name as me…I found out from the postal carrier when she asked if I was related to the other Lisa. Small world, as many share my name.
Then, I thought, well, I’ll check out my name on google. There is a famous Lisa Hamilton who is the ladies national poker champion. The one that really caught my eye, though, was the Lisa Hamilton who has written “Deeply Rooted,” a book about how agriculture has changed and our broken food system. I think I’ll put that on my reading list…
http://www.lisamhamilton.com/book/DeeplyRooted.html
Tammy McLeod
/ July 18, 2010Good job Lisa! Poker? And a great book? I think it’s fun that you have a neighbor – you should go meet her and I’ll read the book when you’re done.
Ok, I just checked out her website. She’s amazing! Let’s go meet her. What a resource.
Lisa H
/ July 18, 2010You’re on! I’ll be looking for the book this week (at a local store!).
thehungryscholar
/ July 19, 2010I’ve been meaning to watch this documentary. I’ve seen one other where this woman travels around America meeting women with her same name.
Tammy McLeod
/ July 19, 2010I haven’t seen that and would be interested.
Paige
/ July 19, 2010This sounds like so much fun! I have a pretty common name and I fear that there are many of me among us!
Tammy McLeod
/ July 19, 2010Doesn’t sound like that would be a bad thing.
callie
/ July 19, 2010I’ve seen the show. You should go ahead and give the google thing a try.
Tammy McLeod
/ July 20, 2010Well, I’ve sort of done it but won’t be making the docu-drama.
fitandfortysomething
/ July 20, 2010beautiful tammy! great post….
Tammy McLeod
/ July 20, 2010Thank you!
Richard M. Firpo
/ July 20, 2010Tammy.
Great blog regarding all the “Tammy McLeods” and their accomplishments. Always enjoy all of your blogs. You never cease to amaze me. Keep up the good (and very meaningful) work.
Rich
Tammy McLeod
/ July 20, 2010What a nice surprise! Thanks for the nice comments. I hope you’ll subscribe.
praniskitchen
/ July 20, 2010nice post..
thanks for the kind words..
Methi means fenugreek…for more details visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenugreek
have a nice day..
Tammy McLeod
/ July 20, 2010Aha! Thanks. I hadn’t heard that before.
Rosa
/ July 20, 2010A great post! There are not too many people with both my names, but I guess there might be one or two around…
Cheers,
Rosa
Tammy McLeod
/ July 20, 2010Thanks Rosa. I bet you might find a couple. I’ve been amazed.
LL Cool Joe
/ July 20, 2010Unfortunately because I’m in the UK I can’t see the video! It’s only available in the States.
Thanks for visiting my blog. 🙂
Tammy McLeod
/ July 20, 2010Yes, that was a learning for me with this post. Sorry about that. I’ll try to post my own video from now on.
Dawn
/ July 20, 2010This is hilarious, because when you first commented on my blog, I thought you were the Tam/Tamara/Tammy McLeod that I was besties with in university! Too funny! It took me some searching through your blog to realize it was someone entirely different!
Tammy McLeod
/ July 20, 2010That is funny. Is she one of the ones that I’ve written about?
Tammy McLeod
/ July 20, 2010Hi Tammy “McLeod”!!!!!
Wow how weird is this – I feel like I’m writing to myself hahahaha. This is so cool!!!! A friend of mine came across your blog and told me to check it out. When I was reading it, amazingly enough I came across Tammy McLeod the Canadian boccia champion…I was like, hey that’s me 🙂 Yup, I’m Tammy McLeod the Boccia player!!!!! I would like to thank you so much for including me in your blog…I feel honoured!!!! Thanks for your kind words! 🙂 I would like to correct something though – you wrote that I’d claimed third at the paralympics, I wish that was true but that’s not right…but thanks for making my day haha 🙂 I’d placed 10th at the 2000 Paralympics, I think that I’d placed 14th at the 2004 Paralympics (I’m getting old…can’t remember – but I’m pretty sure haha) and I’d placed 17th at the 2008 Paralympics.
Where are you from??
Tammy McLeod
/ July 21, 2010Hi Tammy and Welcome! Sorry for messing up your ranking but so glad you stopped by to set me straight. I live in the Desert Southwest in Arizona. I’ve come across your name and your news quite often.
insideoutdasg
/ July 21, 2010Tammy,
I thought I’d check out your blog since you were drawn to the pics on my blog this morning… I saw this guy on OPRAH awhile back… so interesting to me. What’s in a name? I imagine that there is LOTS in the vibration of a particular name. I imagiane that the sound of it vibrates along with something else… and that would be something that pertains to or describes your soul in some way. I am drawn to the name of ALICE… my middle name… the Alice’s I have come across seem connected in a way that is way beyond coincidence!
Diane at http://www.soulstrand.com
Tammy McLeod
/ July 21, 2010Interesting thought. I just finished a fascinating book called Journey of Souls and it certainly would move one to consider beyond coincidence.
insideoutdasg
/ July 21, 2010Thank you! I’ll have to check out the book. I have become soooooooooooooo fascinated of late about sychronistic patterns… names and numbers. A language. A vibrational language. Perhaps?! Diane at http://www.soulstrand.com
polly
/ July 21, 2010I always enjoy learning something new from your posts. Thanks!!
Tammy McLeod
/ July 21, 2010You are most welcome.
Kathy
/ July 21, 2010I only know one Tammy McLeod and she amazes me constantly! 🙂
Tammy McLeod
/ July 22, 2010Thanks Kathy.
Kristen (swanky dietitian)
/ July 22, 2010What a good post! You definitely seem to have a lot of neat with the same name as you!
Tammy McLeod
/ July 22, 2010Thanks Kristen. I appreciate your visit and comments.
milkayphoto
/ July 23, 2010Fantastic post! How fun for you to seek out your name clones! Sadly, I am singular in the world of name clones. So I am doing my BEST to make it a GOOD name! 🙂
Tammy McLeod
/ July 23, 2010You certainly are!