Monthly Archives: April 2026

America, American Politics, Anxiety, Creative Writing, Fashion, GenX, Optimism, Psychology, Words

Re-Re-Re: Considering Red, Number 7

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Today’s entry is a pondering of yet another word that begins with “re”, my favorite prefix.

That word is “reconsider“. What comes up in your mind when you read this word? Perhaps something you might want to reconsider? A chance to go back and change your mind about trying something? To “un-chicken out”?

This fall, I put myself in the most uncomfortable position by participating in my first virtual writer’s meet-up. Let me tell you, there’s a reason you don’t see me posting videos of myself giving you advice or telling you all what I think about something. I am an absolute mess when it comes to having to use my actual literal voice to interact with others. I get so freaking nervous. And my messiness is a good 800% higher when this interaction is with people I don’t know IRL.

But, I got through it. I perservered. And I was witness to a story told by another participant in which she relayed a recent experience she had while wandering through Paris (she was living there on a short term basis with her husband-how cool is that?). She focused on being present while meandering through the streets of gay Paris, and she said she noticed the funniest thing: the color red. It seemed to pop up everywhere, and in particular, in the pants worn by Parisians. It completely delighted her. And her telling of this story in turn delighted me.

That got me thinking more deeply about the symbolism of the color red. Like the MAGA movement and how this faction of the American populace has claimed this color as part of their brand (of course this began with the Republican party, like the Dems have comandeered the color blue). I hate those dumb red ball caps I sometimes see people wear that bear the catchphrase borrowed from the Reagan era by the Trump crowd. I cringe inside as I process the disappointment I feel in humanity when some fool opts to wear one of these ridiculous ball caps in public spaces. Fortunately, sightings of these red ball caps are few and far between these days as fans of the President are becoming more disillusioned every day.

But obviously there’s more to the color red than a political party and movement that doesn’t align with my values, so I’m going to reconsider it.

I recently heard someone say that red is a color that is universally flattering (depending of course on the undertones). And then there were the red hats I saw online worn by people in Minneapolis protesting against ICE’s Metro Surge. These were a different sort of red hat though-a knitted hat that’s pattern originated in Norway (hey-my DNA results say I’m 4% Norwegian!). They were worn by Nazi resisters when Nazis occupied Norway in the early 40’s. And then there’s the warmer shade of red seen in tomatoes I am eager to get started in the new raised bed garden Mr. NOA plans to build this spring. And that cheery red rose bush we planted last spring, which, before long, will be blooming. There really is a lot to appreciate about the color red.

Isn’t it fascinating to think of the ways in which particular colors evoke emotions and psychological responses? Check out this interesting article I found about the psychology of color. What thoughts and feelings come up when you consider the color red?

I’m off to see what options I may find for red pants online now.

I will leave you with a song I heard a few nights ago, on https://www.thecurrent.org/, while I was working on this blog post. I share it because I think it’s fan-freaking tastic but also because I thought “Red Rain” by Peter Gabriel was a bit dark for this conversation and “99 Luft (Red) Balloons” is just not on my highlight reel of songs from my youth in the 80s.

So, just stop and listen to this one. It’s fire!, as (I think) the kids say.

Creative Writing, Dogs, Humor, Imagination, Names

Re-Re-Re-Re-Re-Re: Number 6 about My Favorite Prefix

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As a person who is keenly interested in discussing names and playing around with them, I was very amused by an episode of “Good Hang with Amy Poehler”. She interviewed Mike Schurr, the guy who, among other things, created my beloved “Parks and Recreation”. The two laughed about how it was Mike’s practice to come up with names for every single character in a scene. It didn’t sit right with him that the actors who made the trip across Los Angeles to work for one day on the set where they maybe had one line, to not have a name. You know, something other than “lady in clicking heels” or “male friend of other man in blue shirt who butts in line”

Of course, because they wanted to avoid being sued for using a real person’s name, they had to get creative. They had someone in the legal department regularly checking online to ensure that there was no record of anyone with the name Mike was choosing for that character. What fun that must have been, coming up with all of these names!

If you haven’t guessed it yet, the word I’m focusing on for this entry in my series about my favorite prefix of “re” is renaming.

Our dog, Radar, was named Leroy when he adopted us. This was not his original name, as the staff at the shelter he wound up at in Houston as a puppy, called him Leroy. But he wasn’t a Leroy to me. The name Leroy conjured up that old song from the 70s, “Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown”. But our Leroy was not bad. He was rambunctious for certain, but definitely not a bad dog.

We started calling him Ringo. That lasted about a week. Mr. NOA and I had been going back and forth about what we were going to name him during that span of time, and one night he suggested we name our boy Doppler. Did I mention Mr. NOA is trained as a meteorologist? I countered with the name Radar. And that was that.

If I had to choose a new name for our other GSD mix mutt, Dash, it would for certain be Tigger. When he’s outside, he jumps and pounces with glee and joy in his little puppy heart. It is the cutest thing ever. I can’t wait to get outside with him once it warms up more so Mr. NOA and I can try agility training with him. I think this dog is made for it.

A former co-worker of mine was named Mari (originally pronounced Mary). Yet, she preferred to be called “Marr-ee”. I thought that was so quirky. She told me that she answered to both pronounciations of her name, so sometimes I would teasingly call her “Mary-Marr-ee”. She was a good sport about it.

Sometimes people we know and love, or those we admire from afar surprise us by changing their names. I have zero tolerance for those folks on social media who insist on commenting that they refuse to refer to the name-changer using their preferred name. That, to me, is so childish. Not to mention disrespectful. If a person chooses to change their name, for whatever reason, the only option in my mind is to respect it. Because it’s not about us at all. Purposefully choosing to use a person’s original name against their wishes helps no one and does not change the fact that this person now has a new name.

Someone we are all familiar with has a penchant for renaming things to include his name. I’m looking forward to the day (and I do believe it will come) when someone new and actually competent will be in charge and can rename these things. These institutions.

How about you? What’s your take on renaming things, people, pets, whatever? Or maybe you’ve got a story to tell about renaming something or someone? Please share in the comments!

Here’s a sweet tune from that one-of-a kind band with a most unusual name, “ABBA”.