What's in a name?

Chelsea: In the English: A seaport; a port of ships.

Compare that with my sister's name which means "very holy."

Most of my life, I had wished for a different name, including but not limited to:

Cassandra.

Melisande

Alice

Penelope

Molly

Guenevere

Genevieve and

Aurora.

I would have even been satisfied with a nickname and tried very diligently to give myself one all through school. Including but not limited to:

Waffles.

Frog

Queen Turky (it's a long story)

Kilshona

Apricot, and

Julio (which, oddly enough is the one that finally stuck!)

Many years later, I met a man. I loved him and he loved me. And then he helped me love my name.

Sea

Out on the sea I earn my keep,

A man just struggling to show

That he's got more inside him

Than many people know.

Gone from home

For what seems like ages

Many memories fade like

Ink on the yellowed pages

of my journal, my writings

Of all that has left traces

On my character and soul

So far from loving faces.

But one thing still remains

Untouched by time's cold hand,

A memory warm and clear,

Though hard to understand.

For in my minds' eye

And always in my heart

The memory's of feeling you

Although we're miles apart.

And through the sun and storms I sort

Through feelings true and deep

And there on reaching my safe port

Know who and what to keep.

I've been forever on this ship

Where sea meets heaven so near

Across the endless blue expanse

To reach my port so dear - my Chelsea.

~Muad'Dib

December 14, 2001

Two days before he proposed. I have never thought poorly of my name since. Though there was a little snag with my middle name. Until this same man introduced me to a certain author. I read one of her books and have listened to many of her ideas. I am now not only proud to be a port of ships, but also to share a name and spelling with a most brave woman.

Since then, I have also been given not only a love for my real name, but also a nickname I can be proud of: Sayyadina. That's just downright awesome!!

This is only a small sampling of the little joys in my life that are brought about by being married to Muad'Dib.