Sunday, October 7, 2007

the new 'me'



I have a new secret identity.
I've had an issue with my name recently. I was originally named Cynthia. The story goes that my dad agreed to that name on the condition that it would never be shortened to "Cindy". I don't know how old a child is before she has an abililty to form memories, but my name was shortened to "Cindy" before that time.
Cindy has always sounded like a little girl name to me. There is only one song that I know of that uses the name:
I wish I was an apple,
a-hangin' on a tree
and every time my Cindy passed,
she'd take a bite of me
Get along home, Cindy, Cindy,
Get along home, Cindy, Cindy,
Get along home, Cindy, Cindy,
I'll marry you some day.
(What is the meaning behind that song, really . . . ?)

There are many Cindys in the world -- too many really. I could differentiate myself with the more formal name. In the meantime, Ms. Tanner and I address each other as "Cindi, with an eye" and "Cindy, with a why".
My friend, Suzanne, had a successful name change at some point between her youth and her adult life. Her family and childhood friends still call her Suzy, but to the rest of the world, she has become Suzanne.
I was not consciously aware that there was an appropriate time frame to submit a name change. So I started my adult life as Cindy. I know someday if we retire and move to a new city, I will introduce myself with a new name. However, I don't know if that will ever happen. And I know I can't ask my friends of 20 years to call me something new. The next best choice is to have multiple identities. I recently joined a new "club" - I was new to the group and no one knew me . . . not from church, not from school, not from our neighborhood. It was a clean break -- I became Cynthia for a whole day. Now I have to train Dave when to address me by which name. If he can be successfully trained, then we're good to go!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear CYNTHIA (aka 'Moon Godess')

Owing to your current identity intentions, please be advised of your infringement upon the C.I.N.D.Y.,Inc. (Cindys for Individual Name Distinction Yearnings) manifesto, which is trademarked and duly organized. To continue with your name modification you must register in triplicate and submit payment of $19.95 no later than the first of the month following public name modification announcement.

Respectfully,
Cindi Proudofit
CEO

Suzanne Barker said...

Cynthia,
I never realized you had such an issue with your name. I name change was inadvertant. I just never corrected anybody when I started High School.
What exactly is the purpose of Blogs? I don't think I really understand them, although they are interesting to read.
Suzanne

Bandanamom said...

Cynthia, (as I shall henceforth endeavor to call you) I think they best time for a name change is college, but perhaps anytime is a good time.

Jordan recently told me she would like to switch to using her middle name (Emilee). I would be willing to oblige but it's tricky to get an entire world of school, church, friends, neighbors and acquaintances to make the switch. So as of yet, we have not attempted it.

When I was young there was a family a few houses down with lots of sons. All starting with 'S'. Their last name was Sessions, I don't know if their mom Louis liked the alliteration of the double S or what but they had a Shawn, Stacy, Spencer, Skyler, Samuel and Sterling. The second son, Stacy, kept getting advertisements for women's hygiene products in the mail and solicitous mail addressed to "Miss or Ms. Stacy Sessions". When Stacy got home from his mission he magically became Kevin. It took a year or so to get everyone to switch but we got used to it.

My college roommate was Patti. One day someone called and asked for Tricia. I told them we had a Nanci, a Debi, a Shelli, a Patti, a Cheryl and a Lezlee (notice all those 'i' names!) but no Tricia. Later I told my roommates someone called for Tricia and seemed confused that we did not have one at this number. My roommate Patti cried out "Oh SHOOT! That was my mom! I'm Tricia!". What? I said. She was Patricia. All her young life she was Tricia, when she got to college she switched to Patti.

I like some exotic name like Isabella or something myself, but I don't think it's in the cards for me. Besides, I don't think I'd know how to respond if people quit mispronouncing and mispelling my name!

Cynthia said...

Dear Calizona, does that need to be in the form of a money order?
Best Regards,
Cynthia, (formerly Cindy)

Cynthia said...

Bandana mom -- why would anyone name their kids in a sing-songy-tongue twister list of same-letter names? I'll never know. I did know someone in my hometown named Shelly Shelley. Who would do that to a child?

Anonymous said...

Ha Ha! Hilarious. I was going to be a Christine until the 1st sex-change operation guy/girl became 'Christine' in 1957 a few months before my debut.

I suspect the rhyming names or the matching first letters names are the mother's fancy. Bizarre names are more to the father's liking; "Moon-Unit Zappa". Then there are names that the person invents outright to make a statement, like "Mohamed Ali" or "Madonna". Or names that are actual phrases instead, like "The Artist Formerly Known as Prince".

Other names probably seemed avantegarde at first, like "Asia"...but I am annoyed by how many people laugh and then say something like, "O.K., Hello Germany!" or worse, "Hi, California" Asia always replies, "It's a continent." My Uncle Joe calls her "Africa" which she doesn't mind at all. See? He's following the correct geographical emphasis.

Anonymous said...

Hi, I understand completely as being a Catherine shortened to Cathy! On our last move, I thought I would try Catherine, it did not hold up very well, so I take whatever. I did have a problem with "Catherine" when I was young because that is what my mother yelled out when I was in trouble! Anyway I thought I would tell you I have started a blog, for what it's worth, it is called "My Own Opinion". Cathy uh...err...Catherine Ann