Self-abnegation
brought me to
Buddah Moskowitz.
My teenage plan
was to be a sitcom writer
when I grew up.
Growing up happened
when I realized
there were no sitcom writers
with last names resembling
Reyes or
Martinez or
Garcia or
Ramirez or
Gutierrez or
Torres or
Salas or ...
...you get the picture.
Also,
I didn't look like
anyone in
Hollywoodland,
and I didn't have
the self-confidence,
the flamboyance
to bust out as
the fat freakshow
that I was.
I wanted a name
that would confound
these prejudices
and be all my own,
Q: Why Buddah?
A: Because Judas was
already taken
and I tend to be
a non-dualistic,
non-materialist.
Q: Why Moskowitz?
A: Because even though
there is nothing but
gentile Mexicans
in my lineage,
I know my soul
is Jewish,
plus
I think it looks
very cool.
So, when you see the name
Buddah Moskowitz
do you picture
an overweight 52 year old
Mexican American?
Neither do I,
and I like it
that way.
Hahaha! I loved you good humoured take on life in this unique naming ceremony.
ReplyDeleteHa.. what a wonderful way to present your pen name... it really would make it funny to chose your own pen-name.
ReplyDeletevery cool!!...
ReplyDeleteA gentile Mexican with a Buddhist Jewish name - what could be better? This is full of humor and mostly self acceptance. I enjoyed reading this.
ReplyDeleteI love this. And I do believe I would love you and your amazing work under any name. :)
ReplyDeletePerfect. Fine by me.
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful :D
ReplyDeleteYour poem made me smile :D Wear your name with pride! I love it!!
ReplyDeleteNope I don't and happy is in the name of the beholder. :)
ReplyDeleteoh yes today prompt provided quite a harvest of wit, you made me smile. thats one stunning end line also
ReplyDeletethanks for dropping by to read mine
much love...
Love, love, love!
ReplyDeleteinteresting....there is much in a name...both those we are born to, those others give us and those we give ourselves....I'm not sure what I thought...or that I thought...simply listened to the voice behind the name.
ReplyDeleteNo,I didn't see the Mexican. The profile pic clued me in to the overweight (welcome to the club!) but I imagine it's exaggerated. But what I really see is the words, both in poems and comments, and therefore the sweet, wise soul behind them. I confess, I had a vague idea of you as rather older than 52 — because it often takes longer to grow such souls as yours.
ReplyDeleteSuper funny and your honesty is terrific and captivating. Thanks. K. Manicddaily
ReplyDeleteI do now. :o) I think we should write a sit-com together. I always wanted to do that too, I think it came from watching the Dick Van Dyke show back when I was a kid.
ReplyDeleteThis is certainly as good a list of reasons as any for adopting a cool handle.
ReplyDeleteIt is like a contradiction that balances out any stereotype. Like Whoopie Goldberg! I like the whimsy here.
ReplyDeleteman, this is great ~
ReplyDeleteA rose by any other name... this was a wonderful read filled, with so much more than a moniker.
ReplyDelete