* jdb@math.arizona.edu <jdb@math.arizona.edu> [Jan 25. 2014 09:45]:
[...] I grew up thinking the stick of sealing wax my great grandfather used to seal letters that was in my granfather's rolltop desk was "ceiling wax" and could never understand why someone would put wax on the ceiling. The same goes for the phrase "best seller" which I thought was "best cellar". Never could understand what made one the best. J. Brillhart
When I grew up, still learning my mother tongue (German), I would wonder why in TV-news they kept mentioning that mysterious "Rohr-Schinken" (en: "pipe-ham"). ... which actually was "Washington", as I learned much later. Best regards, jj
[...]
P.S.: does anyone know anybody who recollects asking for their own name? Here is my story: Got aware that I got a name. Asked my mother what it was, but immediately forgot. Asked again, wishing to be able to recall it, but still forgot after a few minutes. Getting annoyed with myself for having forgotten. Asked again, then repeated it over and over to myself. Remembered it from there, success!