Two degrees of separation from Sissy Spacek?

When I got my own office last year, I splurged on a little ego and got a second copy of my Master's diploma to hang on the wall. (The original is on the wall in my office at home, along with the disturbingly old BA diploma.)

I know, I know, but this is not a whole big vanity wall. I used to have one of those many many years ago. You know the type -- every certificate, plaque, commendation, etc., you get goes up on the vanity wall. All that stuff is packed away now, but I got to thinking about it and decided that I'd worked hard for that degree and was going to display it.

I just put it in a nice black frame with a single mat. Understated, just quietly hanging on the wall. Also on my walls, I have a nice "visual vacation" which is a pretty framed beach print directly across from my desk, a framed print of a favorite cartoon signed by the cartoonist, a corkboard with various flotsam and jetsom from my professional life so far, and the requisite whiteboard.

So the diploma. After it had been hanging there for months, one day about three weeks ago, as I was heading out -- and I have no idea why not until that time -- I suddenly noticed something about the diploma that I'd never seen before. My last name was SPELLED WRONG. My last name has a U in it. It is a single U, not UU, which is how they had it.

The only other person I've ever heard of with two consecutive Us in her last name is Anne Uumellmahaye, so I guess I was in good enough company, but I prefer the correct spelling.

I stood there, staring at it, transfixed, as if it were just a blip in time and would momentarily fix itself, because it couldn't have ALWAYS been like that... right? I mean, I'd have noticed... right? Especially when I handled it to put it in the frame... right?

WRONG. It just stayed like that, mocking me in its Olde English font which had disguised the extra letter with all its ruffles and flourishes.

I have gotten it replaced with a new one from the school with everything spelled right this time. Squinting at it now on the wall, it may not be perfectly aligned in the frame, but I'm leaving well enough alone for the time being.