What's in a name?

Australia was a new beginning for me. I knew no one, and no one knew me. I even dropped the T and introduced myself as Asha. Eventually the A dropped as well, and I was shortened to Ash. I thought it was cleverly symbolic - a new me, rising from the Ashes but J thought it was corny.

I didn't mind being called Ash. Tasha, Tash, Tashy, Sha, Asha, Ash, Ashy, my many names were an indication of familiarity.

Tasha I saved for formal introductions, usually business-related, and new people. The better you know me, it seems, the shorter my name becomes.

The other names I use according to moods. Asha would find me on a good day whilst Sha would be used for men whom I've just met. Those whose names I end up gasping in the heat of passion call me Bunny. Funny: bunny. I never figured that one out.

But in Australia I am mostly called Ash, because I still thought it was cleverly symbolic.