Hello! My Name Is:

I was thinking the other day about the names I’ve been called throughout my life.

No, I’m not talking about those names. The ones that floated to us on the grade school playground, or we read on a folded-up note in eighth grade English class. Those names, although they may have hurt or befuddled us at the time, mean nothing now. Scraps of word-porn meant to help the other person knock us down, then climb over us to stand next to the popular kids.

Thinking back, I’m astounded that I let those names take up valuable real estate in my head for so long.

No, I’m talking about the names we went by: nicknames, shortened names, middle names, last names. I’ve had a few in my life. Maybe you have some, too.

Here’s mine:

My names, as perhaps yours, have different meanings to me.

I was named by my father, which is very special to me. Dad chose Debra when he was overseas, and told Mom that’s what my name would be. He didn’t see me until I was eight months old–thank you for your service, Dad!

When I was a child, I was called Debbie by most everyone–unless I was in trouble, that is! I’m sure you can relate.

Skip over to Debo. That’s what I was called by my siblings when they, for some odd reason, couldn’t pronounce Debbie. Go figure. But that is the name I chose for my business–Debo Publishing. It somehow fit, tying me to my past. As a writer, my past and my present are friends who walk with me into my future.

And lastly, there’s Deb.

Deb is my author name. And it’s what most of my current friends and writerly colleagues call me. I love the name because it sets me apart a bit from who I used to be, but doesn’t take away from that younger woman.

So, there you have it. My names throughout my life have defined me, described me, and led me by the hand to where I am today.

But wait . . . there’s more!

There’s another name . . . one I was given when I was but a tadpole of fourteen.

Check it out:

This is the name that will lead me into the presence of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords . . . when I lay my pen down in this life and take it up again in the Next.

I hope the same for you.

All are available on B&N and Amazon.

For a signed copy, go to my Books Page.

Grieving, Loss and Healing available on B&N here and Amazon here.