wants to say thank you to her parents for naming her after a gemstone

Seriously, being named after a gemstone is pretty unique. I mean there aren't too many people named Diamond or Amethyst or Ruby (well okay Ruby if you were born in 1924). I only have one other friend who is named after a rock -- Garnet. Lets be honest, her name is way cooler than mine, but this post is all about me, not her.
Aside to being named after a gemstone (if you can consider Amber a gem) there are lots of benefits to my name:

1-- You are first in everyone's phone book on their cell phone and often get random calls from people's purses, children and back pockets. Really, it makes me feel popular.
2-- It is easy to spell and pretty straightforward. It follows all of the rules of phonics. I like that.
3-- The rock I am named after is even useful in catching bugs and rosining bows for stringed instruments. I am 100% useful. . . nothing wasted.
4 -- The only people who have successfully shortened my name were my old roommates -- for some reason Olivia just got "ber" to stick. It isn't as feminine, but I'll take it. Well, and my little brother sometimes calls me Am, but he is the only one allowed to do that.
5 -- It is Arabic in origin and I have lived in Jerusalem with a lot of Arabs so I think that is only fitting. (plus Arabs have to do a lot of talking with their eyes because the rest of their face is covered and I have really great eyes). ( Yes, these are actually my eyes!)

6. When people say to me "Oh, you are such a gem!" I just nod my head and agree, because it is true at least 2x over.
7. On websites about names Amber is tagged as being: adventurous, American, elegant and best of all romantic! How did my parents know on October 25, 1979 when they named me that I would be all of those things -- truly a miracle. I am a miracle. Maybe they should have named me Miracle -- no, not as cute. :)