The Other Andra
For years, I have heard tell of another Andra, a woman who lived mere miles from my front door. With a name like Andra, it isn’t often that one runs into another, leaving me to be the bright, shining weirdo in the room. Knowing that another one of me lived in close proximity has always been such a tease.
I have never met this elusive other Andra.
But, last night, I had an outing with her brother. Unplanned, we met for drinks, and about three-quarters of the way through, he said, “Have you ever met another Andra?”
“Nope,” I replied. Adult outings render me illiterate.
“Well, my sister is named Andra, and, until very recently, she lived in Mt. Pleasant, just across the river.”
!!!!!
I have heard about this elusive Andra for years and years and years. For more than a decade, I knew she existed, mere blocks from my various front doors.
I never met her. And, now, I have shared drinks and dinner with her brother while she has relocated to Michigan.
*Sigh*
I have always wanted to ask another human being what it is like to be, ahem, blessed with the name Andra. Her brother couldn’t help me with that bit of illumination. Now, I may never know.
Too Much Is Just Enough: Andra
Perhaps some things are better left unknown….the mystery remains and your dreams about sorting out the strangeness of “the Name” shall continue.
As Tennyson says: “Gone – flitted away,
Taken the stars from the night and the sun
From the day!
Gone, and a cloud in my heart.”
We shall cleanse the cloud in your heart as we descend upon the blog party today, everyone will have a name tag that says “Andra” so you can ask about the “strange Name” to your heart’s content.
Well, I guess I should be thankful I am not named Smelly or Succop or Crapnose. And, I am.
Interesting that you’ve joined “other” with Andra which if I remember an-other blog post is said to be the word for “other”. So we have a circular reference here.
I’ve often felt the same about my name. It’s such a ’50s name. Now however, I know 3 women all about may age with the same name. And I went years knowing none.
Funny how these things go in cycles–you may yet meet the “other” / Andra. Bet she’ll be back, certainly after a few years of Michigan winters. ‘Tho the summers are kinda nice.
Her brother lives in my neighborhood, so I am sure she will visit him sometime.
Here’s the ‘other’ post you referenced.
http://andrawatkins.com/2010/11/26/fear-of-the-andra/
Cheryl, interesting that you say that, I have known a good number of “Cheryl”s over the years and always thought it to be a pretty name, but not unusual.
Michael, the only person I’d ever heard of with my name was Cheryl Tiegs, and that was when I was a teen. Small-town SC where I grew up didn’t have too many of us.
Glad you think it’s pretty!
I grew with lots of Cheryls too.
How fun.
I would have like to know would his sister came to be named Andra.
I grew up hating my name. Vera just stuck me as someone who was an eccentric maiden aunt who had a houseful of cats.
As a petulant teen, I once told my mother that I hated my name and she told me that she was going to name me Vivien Leigh (She was a major Gone with the Wind fan; I’m not sure how I would have felt about that), but she saw Vera Miles in a movie when she was pregnant with me, and said that she fell in love with the name and would name the child Vera if the baby were a girl.
Then, she burst into tears, and apologized for giving me a name I didn’t like.
Needless to say, this wasn’t something my adolescent mind was prepared for so, game over.
Over the years, I’ve made peace with my name and even met a few other Veras along the way. At first, we circle each other warily, because we’re so used to being the only one. Then, the Fellowship of the Vera ensues, and it’s all good.
Here’s my namesake in action from a 1960 episode of The Twilight Zone.
I asked her brother the origin of her name, but he didn’t know for sure. She and I are close in age, springing from that era of the late 60′s when the most little Andra’s seemed to appear.
Your namesake is a lovely woman. Here’s a video of mine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0MdcVxS8Js (What is freaking me out is that I once wore my hair EXACTLY like that in a play.)
She’s very lovely. We used to watch the Lawrence Welk show every week.
Well, at least you aren’t named Cootie Brown!
I’ve met so many Steve’s; the world is crawling with them. There’s at least three Steve Mitchells right here in the greater Phoenix area.
I should start a facebook group . . .
Ha! I read an article in Delta Sky Magazine a couple of months ago in which a guy tried to friend everyone on Facebook with his same name just so he could ‘observe’ them. (His word.) It was a humorous essay.
My daddy named me and I don’t ever remember wishing I were named something else. I am Linda – in fact I am Linda Lou. People who don’t even know my middle name will just add it on automatically sometimes when addressing me. In the Bible names were very important and since it says in Psalms 139 (have I mentioned that is one of my favorite chapters?) that all my members were recorded in His book when as yet there were none of them, I think God knew my name also. There is an national association for L.I.N.D.A. You can view that site here: http://www.lindaclub.org/
Your daddy named you and I can’t imagine you by any other name. Your daddy named Neil – I added the middle names, but I think his name fits too. I love you both.
I used to wish I were named something else all the time when I was younger, but now, I love my name. It is unique, even more so because of all the varied pronunciations people create.
What an awesome middle name, I always knew I liked you!!!!
I had an aunt named Lou Ann, too, Lou. Maybe that’s why I like you.
Naming a child is such a subjective process and generally, at the very least, a two-person effort. Sometimes minimal thought seems to have been given by the “namers” as to whether the “namee” would ultimately approve the choice.
Years spent living in various locations around the country have revealed many interesting, sometimes strange (to my Midwestern-bred ear anyway) first-name choices; those names frequently being tied to the passing on of an old family surname. Yet in all those years, I have met only one Andra and thought the name, like the person, to be very unique and special. I think the other one should remain a mystery to you.
Aw, thank you, Karen.
Michael is a named reserved for only the very best!!
Right MTM?
But, when I lived in Atlanta years ago there was actually another “Michael Carnell”. What’s more he used to bank at the same bank as I did so they would occasionally get our transactions mixed up. That was very odd. There are so few Carnells in the world that I never really expected that problem!
No. There will never, ever be another MIchael Carnell. I don’t care what anyone else called himself.
Would you really want another one?
Um, no.
When I was a kid my name was actually Cheryl, we changed it when I realized it was too pretty a name for moi.
I am glad people called you Cheryl all afternoon, but i kept looking for Cheryl Smithem every time it happened.
Why, thank you Lou!
Named after Brett Maverick, I was…
That’s a good one.
I really wish I’d not mangled my calendar and tried to smash up two events that i really wanted to enjoy. As a result, I got to enjoy one event, but not two. That will teach me to read and use a calendar before I commit to events…and not rely on my silly brain.
I know you had a blast at your wine tasting. Sandy does a great job.