One wrinkle in my brain was deliciously unfolded in the presence of so many strong Indigenous Women Leaders. Here are just two of them: Pat McCabe, and Luisah Teish. So much to share about these people... But to start with I will pass on the inquisitive wisdom that Lady Teish excavated from the writing group that I was privileged to attend. Instead of sharing my own writing, I would like to put to YOU her questions, and would love to hear YOUR writings, in the comments of this post.
Here goes:
What is your name?
What does that name mean?
What names were you given?
What names have you taken on or changed?
(nicknames, titles, married names, whatever!)
What do they mean to you?
And how have they shaped your life?
I'll show mine if you show yours..
9 comments:
What were you “called” and how did you feel in relationship to it?
Ila Renee Asplund
Renee.
Tra la la BOOM de ay
Ra-Nay fell in the bay
The sharks had lunch today
Although she tastes like hay
They ate her ANY way
Tra la la BOOM de ay
Sing along, everyone! That was the earliest memory of having my name in someone else’s hands. It was a young Mormon missionary, a 19 year old funny, handsome, intimidating guy, that my parents had over for dinner. I must have been younger than five years old. It humiliated and fascinated me. Why did I taste like hay? I tried to laugh “with” but if felt more like “at…”
Reneé means “born again” in French.
"Baby.”
I was and still am introduced by my parents as “our baby." I never minded really, but became conscious of it when I was in about 4th grade, I went to a special teacher to get tested to see if I was “gifted.” I wasn’t. She said, “they call you that word, don’t they?” I thought of lots of words: brat, pest, squirt, corn-swabble (a ruthless bully plagued me with that one, which felt very dirty but I have no idea where he got it)…”Baby,” she said. “They call you baby, don’t they?” She was referring to my parents, she must have asked about my birth order. I was excited, Yes Yes, that’s me! But from the way she shook her head, I knew I wasn’t supposed to feel that way.
Ila
Ila was my secret name growing up. The name that always got in the way at roll call, mispronounced on the first day of school or in any new setting. Ila was the name of my mother’s mother, who I feared and hardly knew until the last days of life when she was sweetened by her stroke.
Means "earth" or "speech" in Sanskrit
Means “From The Island” in French
Also spelled “Isla” with Scottish origin, related to a Scottish island
She died about the same time that I moved West, started college, changed in many ways. I reclaimed my first name and have never regretted it. It feels natural to me in a way that Renee never did. I have nearly forgotten being called Renee. Strange. True.
Asplund…
Swedish. A grove of Aspen trees.
The meaning is so sweet, it brings to me always a picture of yellow floating leaves in the fall. Yet the ASS in Asplund has given me my fair share of grief over the years…
More on that later.
Come on people. Don't let me keep posting on my own blog! Share your input!! xoxo - ila
What is your name?
Marnie Rose Glickman
What does that name mean?
Marnie is the name of a bad Alfred Hitchcock film starring Tippi Hedren as Marnie. She was a psychopath. Rose is my great grandmother's name. Glickman is a version of lucky man in German. When my great great grandfather came to the U.S. They asked him what his name was at Ellis Island. He didn't speak English so well. He thought they asked, "How are you?" He said, "I am a lucky man."
What names were you given?
Marnie Rose Glickman
What names have you taken on or changed?
Thought I would take my husband's name but didn't.
What do they mean to you? And how have they shaped your life?
Haven't quite worked through the fact that I was named after a crazy movie character in a B movie. Decided that my daughter would have the fabulous name instead. Her name is Calliope Rose. Calliope is the Greek muse of epic poetry. Rose is a rose is a rose.
Amanda Lynn McConnell
As a toddler, my name came out ManMan-- a nickname only my mom perpetuates to this day. By the time I reached school, my name was firmly Mandy. This moniker revives an image in my mind of a plump little girl with pigtails struggling to figure out if I was being spoken to or if instead words were being directed at the Andys, Sandys, Randys and Brandys of my fourth grade class. Still, I felt quite special as Mandy McConnell, a future Pam Dawber, only separated by a vowel sound, destined to live in Boulder and marry a wacky alien. Oh Mork, where art thou?
By junior high I was Amanda, "worthy of love", although my confidence took quite a hit feeling dwarfed in a new, much larger school. It wasn't until about this time, I discovered the musical qualities of my name. I remember being startled by the realization. Lynn was after my father, his middle name as well, but combined with Amanda, it was like a secret treasure. Maybe my parents had it more going on than I thought...
As time goes on I've grown to appreciate the Lynn even more, displaying it proudly. For a brief time in Utah, as a Children's Librarian, I became Mandalynn. It worked at the time, but returning to Missouri and a different sort of professional setting, Amanda Lynn feels more right. I still have fantasies about going back to Mandy (and wearing pigtails), but somehow it only feels right when uttered by a select few-- Seth (Mandee), Heather (Maaandiii), or my cousin Bill (Mannndee, are you still at the liberry?)
Appreciative of a little dramatic flair, I've always been a fan of pseudonyms. Online, the lilting qualities of Amanda Lynn, Librarian makes me smile. Much the same, my secret pen name, Amanda Mizzell, makes me feel oh so cosmopolitan. (Generally, best to keep that one secret, hence, the friend whose name I usurped, won't think "creepy".) While my alter ego in high school makes me shudder, Queen Lola, the space virgin, taken from some L.A. punk zine, was probably a good fit for my outcast self. Likewise, the more amicable persona, Vera Güdfrend, better represents today's self. So different, yet so much the same......Ah, for the love of language, for the love of life.
ooooh these are juicy. yes! thank you my succulent friends. keep em coming!
Amy Kathryn McBride
Amy latin beloved. Kathryn- I don't what it means or where it came from. (weird!) I have never strogly identified with it except that I used to like that it had an unusual spelling. McBride= Scottish roots, Son of Bride?
My mom always liked the name and even had a competition with a friend over who would have the first girl and name her Amy. I have always liked the balance in my name and usually introduce myself as Amy McBride.
This is actually a big deal in my life right now. My (almost) three year old daughter is obsessed with names. "What's your name? What's your last name? What's your other last name?" these questions start conversations daily in our household. One of her teachers told me a story about a development test at her school where they asked her if she knew what her last name is. They used mine as an example "Like your mom's name is Amy Mouton". She said "NO! My mom is AMY KATHRYN MCBRIDS!" They figured she got the concept and moved on to the next question.
I'm sure there will be more about us having different last names later...
Last year I requested and received my spiritual name, Hardev Kaur (gurmuki). I use this when I teach kundalini yoga, or with the community of teachers and yogis. It means The kind and compassionate lioness of divine consciousness who walks with grace and courage throughout her life. When people call me Hardev, I become more subtle, graceful, and compassionate. It is a simultaneoulsy a name, an intention, and a prayer for me to be my highest self.
Hi Ila, how are you.
anyway, thanks for contact me.
My name is...Sisca Nasastra Gafri...
call me Sisca! many people called Sisca (common name in Indonesia). But I think u''ll never find "Nasastra Gafri" in this world except my sister name and me. What's the meaning of Nasastra? I don't know exactly. My parents still keep the secret :) maybe untill i get married. Hmmm,..
/loves, sisca
What is your name? My name is Carolina Jasintha Monteiro. But call me Olin. Monteiro is my father's name, he is a quarter spanish.. and mix with West Javanese blood.
What does that name mean?
Carolina is a mix of whatever comes to the mind of my parents, due to my birth. It was part a name of the hospital I was born to (Carolus Hospital) and part because my father is a musician and he loves music so much. So he likes a song called Oh Carol... now... you know
What names were you given?
Caroline Monteiro (stated at the letter of birth)
What names have you taken on or changed?
nickname Olin, Lin or Sinta.
I like my name
What do they mean to you?
Olin is a nick name given by my childhood friend, seemed friendly and nice so I like it. No meaning, it's just short from Caroline.
And how have they shaped your life?
Sometimes I think that I have a common name. But altogether, Carolina Monteiro is a satisfying name, because people think I am from Spanish and not Indonesian hahaha. Just for fun.. But, I am happy with my name and never change it
Catherine Vaughan O'Neill:
Catherine is from the greek meaning "pure" (amy mc, now you know.) Vaughan is my mother's maiden name. I like it, I think it has Welsh roots. And O'Neill from northern Ireland.
I've been called Katie since birth.
Because I grew up with another friend named Katie, I've also been "Katie O" since birth. I use this still and I like the small distinction from all the other Katies out there. My family often calls me "Kate" but my husband and friends never do. So when I hear myself called in one syllable I know I'm with someone from home.
I've also been called
Katie, Katie the little lady
KatieVaughan
and now Katie O-O because my husbands last name is O'Malley. I can't seem to decide on taking his name. I still might. But his ancesters are from southern Ireland so....And they were supposedly pirates.
My best friend calls me Helga because we were in German class together. Ja. Helga, the nickname, is sadly the only thing I retain from six years of studying German.
I like my name. It feels like me.
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