My name is Taaaaaah-reeeeeee-aaaaaaah

*This blog is in response to a blog post by one of my past theatre dads, Doug Whaley: http://douglaswhaley.blogspot.com/2012/05/naming-your-baby-some-mistakes-to-avoid*

   Tahrea.
 I've been called Tara, Tiara (my cousin's name, btw), Teresa, Tahera- every obscure or thinkable configuration of T's, A's, and R's imaginable. "No, it's Teresa without the S." "Maria with a T." Some people just don't get it. So many times I've been told it's an "ethnic" name or a "black girl's" name (racist, I know).  After pronouncing it twice and spelling it out, I then have to explain its origin, 1st Chronicles 9:41. THEN I have to explain that Tahrea (or Tarea, as it's spelled in 1st Chronicles 8:35) was a son of Ahaz, and that, YES, it is a guy's name. *sigh*
   I used to hate my name so much when I was a kid. I hated that it was one more thing that seemed to add to my being unpopular and different from my peers. Middle school was particularly painful. It wasn't until I became a young adult that I realized how awesome it was to be such an individual. I now dread the thought of finding another Tahrea in the world, lol. It's my name. The great thing about my name, haha, is that even if you can't remember how to pronounce it, you know it's different. When we meet again, it's in your head, somewhere. After the first or second time, it's stuck. And that makes me unforgettable. And I'm ok with that. :o)

Oh! I forgot to mention the songs. OH, the songs..... Just replace Maria and you have my childhood.....

And my sister figured this one out several years ago. heh. Clever kid. Sometimes.
(My sister, JUNIA. Jew-knee-ah. Same rant, different Bible verse. At least her namesake was a chick. Google that one.)

Today brought in the Newspaper Man (An original writing.)

I wrote this in 2009. 
__________________________
Today brought in the newspaper man.
He seemed kinda down as I poured him a round,
and he looked at me and said,
"I've had nothing to write since they stopped their
fights.
No more guns, no more war.No more rich or poor.
They settle their differences, nothing worth fighting
for.
No more wealth or fame, which are said to cause pain.
And you won't find conviction, and no drug addictions.
Everyone gets high on life.
You'll be hard pressed to find a guy who's stressed
and finds it neccessary to cheat on his wife.
And the children, it seems, have no reason to scream,
save a few playground games.
I'm no longer too criticial of thoughts political, and
the crooks that used to run their schemes.
The government is now a sentiment, and men can really
live their dreams.
No newborn religion or cult-like divisions.
The country's a bit more centered on the hope of
peace and love (though it's all a bit obscure to me.)
And old baptist preachers and other like leaders
are finding it easier to collect their believers.
No one believes it is fun to deceive or attempt any
wrong in any way...
No, it seems, my friend, there's no good news today."