Maybe a new name would be good…

[Deanna_Renee]

Chrissty, this one is for you... or rather because of you.

Chrissty had made a comment that I really need to change my name once I hit 15 posts (4 more to go), that "StuckInHere" just won't cut it. I think she's right. Stuck was just what I was feeling at the time, actually felt for a long time.

I think if I'm going to go forward - not that anyone could hold me back at this point - then I will need to explore who I am to be. But a name, what name, out of the millions of names in the world and the countless others that haven't even been thought of yet, how do I choose one that fits?

One of the first names that comes to my mind and seems pretty special to me is Deanna. I had a very, very dear friend, perhaps the best friend I have ever had in my life, who's name was Deanna. I firmly believed that she was my soul-mate, we had this incredible connection to each other. She is the one person I have ever known who I could sense her feelings, her joys, her sadness, her frustrations when we weren't even together. We lived more than 50 miles apart and I would know, intuitively, when she was experiencing some strong emotion and knew what she was feeling and if I needed to worry about her.

Sadly, I made the mistake of asking her out, told her I wanted to be more than friends. A week later, she was living 2500 miles away, no forwarding address, no phone, no contact with mutual friends, no explanation, no good bye. If this was an isolated incident, I would just chock it up to she had already planned it and just couldn't bear to tell me. But, it wasn't isolated, it was just another version of a common scenario in my life. At least 5 other women that I had befriended and asked out over the years had packed their bags and out-of-the-blue moved away - no forwarding addresses, no phones, no contact with friends. I have gotten to the point where I had been feeling like some kind of freak, or leper or something horrible.

Okay, that was weird, a little TMI. This was supposed to be a happy post about moving forward and rejoicing in finally being myself. I am still drawn to Deanna. It's a beautiful name and it reminds me of the most beautiful, intelligent, sensitive (mostly), and seductive women I have ever known in my life. And it is also not too far off from my given name, Damon.

I am also very much open to options and opinions and suggestions and criticisms. I know without a picture it would be hard to picture me as a certain name. I will get one up soon. I should reach my 15 posts, or 50,000 words  in a day or so. I will also have to take a photo that somewhat resembles me (probably male mode for now).

Talk amongst yourselves and thank you for all of the warm welcomes these past couple of days. You are all super fantastic, I haven't been this excited/happy in... well I don't know the last time I was this happy.

Hugs all around 

D

[LordKAT]

Deanna is a good name. If you like it, keep it.

[Darlene]

The best advice i can give is to research girl names from the year you were born, find a name that fits and use it. I have no idea how old you are, but for example, if you were born in the 70' s you wouldn't want to name yourself  Stella.

[Deanna_Renee]

Thank you Diane S, that sounds like a good idea. BTW - a decade earlier - 1961 to be precise.

Where would I find such a list? I suppose I could always look through my *icky* high school yearbook. Just wouldn't want to go with any of the names of girls that treated me so cruelly back then (there were many).

[finewine]

Unfortunately "Deanna" may remind people of that loathsome character from Star Trek - TNG.

At the end of the day, it's your choice - go with what fits your mental self-image.

[Miniar]

pssh... pick whatever name makes you feel good to have... regardless of "when" it originated from..
Choose something that's "you".

[PinkSunshine]

Unfortunately "Deanna" may remind people of that loathsome character from Star Trek - TNG.

Do you mean Marina Sirtis?

Anyways, I think Deanna is a bueatiful name, but in the end, it means little if you don't think it fits you. Just MHO .

[Lachlann]

pssh... pick whatever name makes you feel good to have... regardless of "when" it originated from..
Choose something that's "you".

I couldn't agree more.

[finewine]

Do you mean Marina Sirtis?
[...]

Yes, or rather the character she played (and I don't rate her acting skills very highly in any role she's played).  Honestly I'd happily feed "Deanna Troi" through a waste disposal unit and flush her mince into space....and I'd do it to Wesley twice, because he's just such an utter c0ck!  I'd *cringe* when either of them were on screen.

[Jamie-o]

Yes, or rather the character she played (and I don't rate her acting skills very highly in any role she's played).  Honestly I'd happily feed "Deanna Troi" through a waste disposal unit and flush her mince into space....and I'd do it to Wesley twice, because he's just such an utter c0ck!  I'd *cringe* when either of them were on screen.

First the wood chipper, now the waste disposal unit.  Grinding up people is becoming a habit for you. I wonder if there's a 12-step program for that? 

[Lachlann]

First the wood chipper, now the waste disposal unit.  Grinding up people is becoming a habit for you. I wonder if there's a 10 step program for that? 

Just pray he doesn't work at a deli.

[Deanna_Renee]

Damn you Finewine  you had to bring her into this? She was rather horrible an actress, quite annoying. TNG almost ruined Star Trek for me (DS9 completely shattered it). Sorry, geek out mode.

I haven't really started really thinking about names, but it seems like it will be a fun activity and in the whole scheme of things, I'm sure I'll have plenty of time to come up with one. After all a baby is born in only 9 months and it will likely be a couple of years for my 'real' self to be fully born.  Happier days are a comin'.

Keep the names and suggestions coming - just, please, no more Deanna Troi, please!

D

[Miniar]

You could always research polytheistic goddesses and find one you identify with and use her as an inspiration for a name (don't have to take her exact name, but you can use it as a point from which to start)

[finewine]

First the wood chipper, now the waste disposal unit.  Grinding up people is becoming a habit for you. I wonder if there's a 12-step program for that? 

There is!  Step one is to lightly sautee some finely chopped onions in butter and sage...

[chrysalis]

I'm going to echo everyone in here by saying just find what fits you. Star Trek and the rest of the world doesn't matter as lond as you are comfortable, just make sure you pick something for the long term.

[Notyetme]

And it is also not too far off from my given name, Damon.

OMG! Thats my given name too!

I actually always liked it, as far as guy names go But i've decided to go with Laura for my new name When I'm me I'll be changing my forum name too, not there yet though

Just a question, because I meet so few Damons. Do you really hate people calling you Damian ,because I get that all the time, since forever. Or Raymon, I get that alot too

[Deanna_Renee]

OMG! Thats my given name too!

I actually always liked it, as far as guy names go But i've decided to go with Laura for my new name When I'm me I'll be changing my forum name too, not there yet though

Just a question, because I meet so few Damons. Do you really hate people calling you Damian ,because I get that all the time, since forever. Or Raymon, I get that alot too

Hmm... growing up I used to hate my name. Being Damon was compounded by the fact I have/had red hair (now rapidly going gray  ), glasses, well above average intelliigence, and growing up in the 60's/70's. I used to get all of the hurtful names: Demon, Diamond, CarrotTop, Red, Geek, Brainiac, Nerd, Damian (this was especially bad when... well you know when), Loser, Desmond, Peabody (after Mr. Peabody - the 60's era cartoon character - a time traveling dog/professor with his pet boy), David (or anything that was closely familiar, there were never any other Damon's until I moved to the south) and so many others. I don't remember ever getting the Raymon though.

I have always loved Laura and its various derivations; Lauren, Laureen, Lori, Laurie. I've actually been infatuated with one or more girls with those names.  Needless to say, nothing ever came from any of those. Gives me something to think about though. I also had a good friend Debbie, I kind of like that name as well.

Not really sure why I am thinking of staying with D names. Maybe it is because my mom chose to name my siblings and I with all D's or if, I think, it would be easier to remember to respond to something that sounds remotely like what I've been called my whole life, or occasionally called. Does this make sense to anyone?

Hugs all around 

Deanna (trying on for size)

[Notyetme]

Hmm... growing up I used to hate my name. Being Damon was compounded by the fact I have/had red hair (now rapidly going gray  ), glasses, well above average intelliigence, and growing up in the 60's/70's. I used to get all of the hurtful names: Demon, Diamond, CarrotTop, Red, Geek, Brainiac, Nerd, Damian (this was especially bad when... well you know when), Loser, Desmond, Peabody (after Mr. Peabody - the 60's era cartoon character - a time traveling dog/professor with his pet boy), David (or anything that was closely familiar, there were never any other Damon's until I moved to the south) and so many others. I don't remember ever getting the Raymon though.

I have always loved Laura and its various derivations; Lauren, Laureen, Lori, Laurie. I've actually been infatuated with one or more girls with those names.  Needless to say, nothing ever came from any of those. Gives me something to think about though. I also had a good friend Debbie, I kind of like that name as well.

Not really sure why I am thinking of staying with D names. Maybe it is because my mom chose to name my siblings and I with all D's or if, I think, it would be easier to remember to respond to something that sounds remotely like what I've been called my whole life, or occasionally called. Does this make sense to anyone?

Hugs all around 

Deanna (trying on for size)

So glad you like Laura Deanna is a pretty name and I can completely understand where you are coming from. I tried for soooo long to come up with a D name that felt right. I was thinking Demona, like the Character from the cartoon Gargoyles (if you have ever heard of that) but in the end I just dropped the obsesion with D names and just tried to think of the girl name I liked the most. I never thought of Deanna though (kinda wish I had now  )

I am however going to follow my family tradition of middle names that start with J. I'm going from John to Jane.

And wow. Kids have gotten a lot less inventive and a lot lazier since your day, I just got called Gaymon. Now I need a hug too

[Janet_Girl]

There is!  Step one is to lightly sautee some finely chopped onions in butter and sage...

Serve with some fava beans and a nice chianti.

Stuck,
Nothing wrong with Deanna if you feel connected to it.

Janet

[Deanna_Renee]

Done! At least on a trial basis.

I decided to give Deanna a try, see if it suits me. Still playing with middle name - Renee is okay, no connection it just seems to kind of fit with Deanna. I'll change the avatar soon after I get a good enough pic of me.

Deanna