Jane?

Truth be told, as a little girl I was not in love with my first name “Ashley”. The name “Ashley” just didn’t fit when I played house because it always had that tone of what I thought to be a little girl’s name. In my attempt to be an adult as a toddler, I decided that when I was old enough I would change my name to Jane. My favorite letter at the time was “J” and my mom’s best friend, whom I called “Auntie Jane”, was someone I absolutely adored (and still do!). So why not change my name to Jane? I think I may have even asked my parents in the midst of all this if people were ever allowed to change their names. And possibly from them, or God knows where, I got it in my head that the deed could be done as soon as I turned the unimaginable age of 18.

I carried this hope and dream of having the name “Jane” for some time, and evidently so since here I am writing about it. Good news came to me, prior to turning 18, as my dream was reaffirmed when Phoebe, from the greatest show to ever happen to TV, changed her name to Princess Consuela Banana Hammock. Happy day! Life went on as it does and upon turning 18 years old I had the “Jane” thoughts yet again. However this time, I was humored at the fact that I at one point in time had the very best of intentions of changing my name to “Jane”. And here I was at the magic age having grown into the name “Ashley”, and on a journey to outlive my own preconceived notions about my name. I was liking “Ashley”, and wanting very much to be the “Ashley” who stood out in the crowd of all the bagillion “Ashley’s” around me (Thank you Mom and Dad!).

TODAY I finished college (ahhhhhh), as 21 year old, and yes I am going to say it, woman, still thinking and now writing about my childhood dream of having the name “Jane”. And while the name is irrelevant for the most part, as is this mongo story, this little snip-it of my life is my reason for starting this blog. “Call Me Jane” is my way of being creative and titling my blog something that will (I think…) catch some people off guard, and stand as an example as for what I hope my blog comes to be; a place to share some of the inside scoop and everyday (I can’t promise everyday) happenings in my big exciting life. So here we have it Ladies and Gentleman (sound the music)… I introduce you to my blog “Call Me Jane”.

Note: I still do like the name Jane, and would have been very happy if that is what my birth certificate read on September 9, 1988.