Tag: self-identity

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Well “Gerianne” turns 38 today! No, not me. I’m much older than 38! (Although I feel around 38!) “Gerianne” is 38 today. “But…. YOU’RE Gerianne.” This is very true!

For those of you who hate the name you were given when you were far too young to protest and since that day you truly believe you’re “stuck with it” for the rest of your life, I have very good news for you…… YOU’RE NOT AT ALL STUCK WITH IT! Yaaaay!!!

I occasionally get asked how I got the name Gerianne. Who gave it to me? When I answer “I did.” I either get a very confused look, or I’ll get a response of something like “Ohhh, Gerianne’s not your real name.” Then when I reply with “Yes, Gerianne is my real and legal name.” then the really confused looks start coming.

Ok, so an explanation is obviously required here. First let met say that, yes, Gerianne truly is my legal and rightful name, but that hasn’t always been the case. I was actually Christened/Baptised Geraldine ( which was chosen by a relative whom I don’t at all get along with) Beatrice (which was chosen by my mother) Anne (which was my mother’s name.) [Boy, what a mouthful!]

When I came into my early teens in Ontario, people started calling me Gerry for short because Geraldine was considered “too old fashioned.” In addition Flip Wilson’s comedic character “Geraldine Jones” brought on another branch of unappreciated teasing to my life.

Then when I was nearing twenty I went through a delayed and severe stage of grieving, in really missing my mother, who had died of cancer when I was just seven years old. I decided that I wanted something of her’s that would be a constant part of my life and that I could have with me every single day of the rest of my life. Since Anne was already my third name, I thought of the idea of combining it with the “Gerry.” (Honestly, at that point I had never heard the name Gerianne ever before. I thought I was coming up with a truly one-of-a-kind name.) I then sat down and typed out (on an electric typewriter) all the different ways that I could think of to spell Gerianne. I think I came up with 264 ways of spelling it. I may still have that list somewhere. I’m not sure. It included G’s or J’s, one r or two, hyphen or not, double n or not, with or without an e at the end, etc. I decided that I liked the way my chosen spelling is the best. It’s all one word and looks nice.

But I knew that if I just starting calling myself Gerianne I would have acquaintances and others saying “I don’t have to call you that. That’s not your rightful name.” So I made it my rightful name – legally. On April 16, 1980, I went to court and had my first name legally changed to Gerianne. Unfortunately, I still have a few relatives who are stuck in their ways and still call me either Gerry, or worse Geraldine, (which is a real pet peeve of mine – I hate both immensely) but I realize that I can’t convert everyone.

The first other Gerianne I’d heard of wasn’t an awareness gained under the best of terms. My then husband was reading a Newfoundland newspaper and read about a Gerianne (spelled the same as mine) who was murdered in St. John’s NL. The article really upset him for a long time.

I later did a search on the web once for Gerianne and I was really surprised to see how many results came up – varying spellings of course. I forget which search engine I used but it was interesting. I also “met” a Gerianne on the net who was named after St. Gerard – the patron saint of pregnant women. She was living in Alaska when we “met” online.

These days I also go by Annie, which was what everyone called my Mom. I’m honestly very comfortable with both – Gerianne and/or Annie; and yes I really did meet Tim Horton – although the captions are just for fun. (But I don’t remember what we talked about, so ya never know….. maybe! Haha!)

The Kabalarians website give the following analysis of the name Gerianne, which actually seems fairly accurate:
The name of Gerianne creates a friendly, sociable, charming nature, but causes you to be too easily influenced by others. While you find it easy to meet and mix, and can appear agreeable and compromising in conversation, you can become dogmatic and forceful if pressed too far. Others learn that you cannot be told what to do and you seldom change your mind once it is made up. You prefer situations that allow a degree of independence, but are reluctant to take on a demanding work-load or responsibility. In a position dealing with the public, you could do well because of your friendly personality, interest in people, and desire to please. When asked, you are able to give others good advice that you would probably not follow yourself, but must guard against being too opinionated in controversial matters.

The physical weaknesses due to this name, centre in the fluids of the body and the senses of the head, causing headaches, eye, teeth, or severe sinus conditions; also, kidney or bladder weaknesses.

You can get information your name at the Kabalarian Philosophy™, website, at: www.kabalarians.com Try it for fun. You might learn a little more about yourself.