Justin Casey Peas

Growing up with the name “Page” was not easy and was borderline traumatic. I think it’s a great name for a girl, but not great for a boy. Other than the misspellings (“Paige” is the female spelling) and many people assuming I must be a female before meeting me, it is just an odd name. Many kids made fun of my name in school, and looking back it wasn’t that bad, but it sure seemed like it at the time. “Paging Page”, “turn the page”, “Chapter”, “Book”, “Paper”, Poser Page”, “What page number are you”, are all the things said that come to mind.

Other crappy things that have happened: One year in summer school I was daydreaming when I heard the teacher call my name. I responded and everyone started laughing. The teacher was telling us our assignment was on Page 27. When Vanessa went to change her name on her Social Security card the clerk refused to do it at first because she thought Vanessa had married a girl on the Marriage License.

Growing up with an odd name has made me a little jaded when it comes to the thought of naming my own children. If I had to deal with it, so should they! The list of names I have come up with are one’s that would make my name seem quite normal in comparison. First, I have decided all of my children’s middle names will be Alowishious. This is from an inside joke from my high school years which I will not divulge here.

Boys Names
Crustaceous Alowishous Montgomery (“Crusty” for short)
Albondigas Alowishous Montgomery (You know… like the soup) (Just call me Al)


Girl Names
Gertrude Alowishous Montgomery ("Gertie" for short)

Any other ideas?

I have learned to like my name. It is unique, so people tend to remember who I am. I really don’t think about it that often anymore.

As for the title “Justin Casey Peas”, my sister knew Andy Peas in high school. He always said this is what he would name his son.