Janka is my sister. She is the younger one so she has not suffered the ‘naming after the parent’, unlike me. In my family, a tradition has been born (with me) where the first child is named after a parent. My mother did that and both of her younger sisters too. The tradition has started with them and will stop with us. By us, who are exposed to the confusion, loss of privacy as our letters were constantly opened by our parents, and endless explaining – no, the person you are looking for is actually my mom. Our traditions don’t last very long. With each year we add to our age, more alterations are being made. Not even Christmas traditions are safe. Easter was banned years ago.

Marasca is not my real name. But I feel it is my true name. I was given the surname printed in my passport after my father. I am not my father. I am a half of my mother too (btw it’s her 60th birthday today). So I have taken half of her maiden name and half of my father’s name and mashed them together. Mara-sca. I think it sounds great. It compliments my first name (which I actually don’t mind that much). Plus it is also a type of sour cherry.  And I love cherries.

J in the A to Z challenge.