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Just another Barbara

CJ Antichow
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Daily writing prompt
If you had to change your name, what would your new name be?
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I think I’ve written about this umpteen times before but in case you’re just joining me, my WP handle “CJ” is the name I wanted as a kid.

My actual name is Carla, middle name Joanne.

So awfully boring and basic. The worst.

So one day when I was, I don’t know, maybe ten-ish, I announced at the supper table that going forward I wanted to be known as CJ. My family laughed. Then carried on chewing and chatting as though I hadn’t just said that.

Doomed a Carla forever.

However, in my adult life in certain workplaces and on rare occasions, CJ actually stuck. In some cases it morphed into Ceej (seej). I love that.

I’m proud of the names I’ve given my girls, Bella-Lena and Cordelia. I would’ve killed for a name like that. I’ve always thought Carla was so plain jane; just another Barbara or Kim or Debra. (Sorry if you’re reading and that’s your name, but we’re in the same boat I’m afraid).

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Paint Lake, a couple weekends back
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My baby Sid

12 responses to “Just another Barbara”

  1. Michael Williams Avatar
    Michael Williams

    oh! i like “Ceeg!”

    i’m glad the name stuck. it’s tough having a name that you don’t resonate with – thankfully we do have an opportunity to change it. i’ve toyed with the idea of a stage name the way actors and actresses have them. but it’s gotta be something crazy. i used to have a burner account on social media when i was trolling people lol. i used a p*rnstar name generator and I actually liked it haha.

    happy friday! Mike

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. CJ Antichow Avatar
      CJ Antichow

      Lol 😂 thanks for the laugh Mike

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. Matt Avatar
    Matt

    Full Name Matthew David. I hate the “thew” so prefer Matt, but I have also gone by M. And M. David

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. CJ Antichow Avatar
      CJ Antichow

      Matt is such a nice name!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Matt Avatar
        Matt

        Thanks

        Liked by 1 person

  3. thingsihavethoughtof Avatar
    thingsihavethoughtof

    Ceejay? Ceyjey? Seajhai? Hsedjaye?

    My email starts with arjay, which was meant to be RJ for Robert James, but everyone thinks I’m Indian with Arjay, riding a Chariot with a blue guy sitting beside me (it was Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita).

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. CJ Antichow Avatar
      CJ Antichow

      Yessss arjay, ceejay…tomato tomatoe

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  4. Stephanie Avatar
    Stephanie

    A young person of ambivalent gender helped me at a store yesterday. Their name was Juniper, a word I love. I understand the envy, since my first name is just a variation on my mother’s maiden name. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. CJ Antichow Avatar
      CJ Antichow

      Omgsh that’s a beautiful name! On my last trip to my parents I learned our family has a history of using “August” as a first name in different forms, August, Augustine (shortened to Gussie) but both my daughter and I loved just August…she added it to her list of someday baby names lol

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Stephanie Avatar
        Stephanie

        I love August too!! I was born in August so it would have been perfect. Alas. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Mary K. Doyle Avatar
    Mary K. Doyle

    You are beautiful whatever name you believe suits you best.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. CJ Antichow Avatar
      CJ Antichow

      Aww thanks so much Mary, so nice of you to say! I love your name! It’s the middle name of my youngest daughter 💓

      Like

      Reply

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