I was named after my parents. Yes, my parents thought it would be clever to name their last offspring, a combination of their single halves to create a whole, after themselves. Edinette. The first half comes from my father, Edgar, Eddie, Ed, he goes by so many names. The latter from my mother Nenita. Growing up, it was never a question whose child I was, for it was literally in my name. What’s in my name? From the first half of my father, I got his tenacity and strong will; from my mother’s latter half, her kind heart and Seussian imagination, though she has not read much of Dr. Seuss. My father is stubborn, but his name did not give me that. My mother is overbearing, but her name made me compassionate instead. My name has horrible dance moves, never able to stay on beat as it rolls off your tongue. It always wants to go by its own tempo and march to its own drum. Sometimes it wants to be long, Ee-din-et. Sometimes it wants to be snappy, Ed-net. Usually, it wants to skip and hop, Ed-in-et, which is how I prefer it. When meeting people for the first time, long Edinette and snappy Edinette make their appearance, though skip and hop Edinette does not show up until much later. I understand, I am like that, too, a little shy to reveal myself. It is intimidating to hear my name and it not be my name. It rolls off someone’s tongue but it is not familiar, it is not a name I would respond to. Instead, long Edinette and snappy Edinette come out front and center, entertaining an audience with a façade. My name has no meaning; it does not mean strength or hope. It does not mean innocence or grace. Its meaning is that I may assign significance to it however I choose. Edinette means wonder and whimsy, as I am in constant pursuit of something fascinating. If it were a color it would be aqua; blue but not sad-blue, more ocean-blue, which is ironic because I have a fear of drowning. Edinette is that still period between slumber and consciousness where it feels like you are floating in bed. My name would be curled up on the couch with a cup of tea on a beautiful day because although my name seems bold and daring, it prefers to live simply. But if I could have an alter ego, I would name myself Lulu. Not short for Louise or Lourdes. Lulu. Who is bold and French, strong like coffee.
