"I have you in my mind as Carmen, but it's not Carmen..?"
"No, but that's my dog's name. It means a song or poem- which would be much more fitting."
The name Chelsea does not easily lend itself to nicknames, so embracing the potential for one, "You're welcome to call me Carmen."
(This is a video of my dog Carmen and I over Christmas break.)
This wasn't the first time a professor opted away from Chelsea. Sophomore year, Lucy, the photography professor decided I looked like a young Brooke Shields. (The nicest compliment I've ever received, though I don't see a similarity beyond the eyebrows.) She never actually learned my real name, but instead just called me Brooke. I learned to answer to Brooke- from her and classmates who hadn't met "Brooke" prior to photography.
Towards the end of that semester, I visited my photography grade posting online. Concerned with the low points in attendance and participation, I dropped by Lucy's office to remind her that the "Brooke" she scribbled down on her daily attendance log was actually Chelsea. Amused and apologetic- Chelsea's grade drastically improved.
Growing up, I had extremely bushy eyebrows- a great target for bullies. When I was upset, my mom would mention how beautiful Brooke Shield was with her bushy eyebrows. (At that age I loved the movie Blue Lagoon.)
Each time someone in photography called me Brooke, it gave me warm fuzzies thinking of moments with my mom- and my legendary brows.
 |
| Fourth Grade Chelsea |
Besides my mother, no one has ever deemed "Chelsea" as a fitting name- myself included.
My grandpa called me Celeste for the first three months of my life, though I attribute that more to his poor memory than as a sign of protest.
My grandpa called me Celeste for the first three months of my life, though I attribute that more to his poor memory than as a sign of protest.
