Tatiana, the Dyslectic Introvert

64. My mother wanted to name me “Liesl” or “Tatiana”. My father vetoed both names. He wanted to name me “Angela”, and since it had familial significance on both sides of the family, he was able to convince my mother that it was a good idea. (Strangely, Tatiana had familial significance on my dad’s side, and that’s exactly why he didn’t want to use it. He thought one Tatiana in a family was enough.)

I wonder if I'd be the same person with a different name. Would people have treated me the same throughout my life? Would I have reacted in the same ways? I honestly believe that our names help mold us as people (and I'm very glad I didn't get stuck with a horrid name, like Brooklyn or Heavenlee or something). I wonder what this blog would’ve been called if I had a different name… Off the top of my head, probably “Liesly Amused” or “Tatianalytical”. (What? I might’ve had a different name, but I’m sure I’d have the same corny sense of humor and love of wordplay. My grandfather instilled them in me from a very young age, and I’m sure he would’ve done so regardless of my name.) If I had been named Tatiana, I probably would've tried to institute the nickname "Tia" somewhere along the line (instead, I spent a period of time in fourth grade trying to get the nickname "Angie" to catch on, and dotted the "i" with a heart. Luckily, I grew out of that phase. And I've also had many people in my life call me Aiea, but that's a story for another day.)

65. Is it possible to be simultaneously introverted and exhibitionistic? Because if so, I think I am. It does seem rather counterintuitive (and also counterproductive). One of my readers (thanks Andrew!) sent me an article several weeks back about being an introvert (after I wrote my entry titled Angela Rigby), and I've been wondering since reading it if these two personality traits can coexist. (I’ll have to extrapolate on this when I’m back to regular posts. Remind me.)

66. In medical terminology, if someone has a condition ending in “–xia”, then when you use the word as an adjective, you replace “-xia” with “-ctic”. Therefore, someone with anorexia is anorectic (NOT anorexic), and someone with dyslexia is dyslectic (NOT dyslexic). One of those things you learn when your parents are in the medical field… Go out into the world and show off your new knowledge.