I have heard this name more during the past few weeks than at any other time in my life, which is strange because it is my name.
At work, I sit across from Emily Yahr, the nation’s leading chronicler of Taylor Swift. On my left is the sports department.
You see where this is going.
The Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce relationship has captivated (or infuriated) much of America. It has been my own personal hell.
It started as a trickle. I’d overhear, “Did you hear about Travis and Taylor?” Wait, what about me? I don’t even think I know a Taylor.
Now, it’s a flood. Do you know how many times I turn my head because I think someone’s addressing me?
No one is.
No one is ever talking about me. Or about any of the other Travises (Travii?).
They are talking about the One True Travis, a tight end with the Kansas City Chiefs who is one-half of the center of the universe.
Washington Post, Travis Lyles. I occasionally receive messages meant for him.
That’s it. And vice versa.
Travis Lyles had a high school best friend named Travis. “People would often call us ‘the Travises,’ because we were the only two in our orbit,” he says. “Other than him, I never really knew anyone else with the name. Until … I came to The Washington Post.”
Wait! Hold the presses! There’s at least one more Travis at The Post, who saw this piece in our editing system and reached out: Travis Meier, editor for Post Opinions. Like me, he enjoys that our “name is of a rare breed,” and he is sick of the constant “travesty” jokes. He once got a “charitable chuckle” from the One True Travis, when he met him and said “Hi, Travis. I’m Travis.”