Ecuadorian children.

Sweat, humidity, mud, tarantulas, mice in my bed, foreign insect bites, a staph infection and icy showers, but what i wouldn't give to be back there.

Acronyms.

To the IRS, my dentist, and the Driver's License Bureau I am Laura Amy Craig.  Due to a combination of 58 keychains on my lime green backpack, my uncoordinated mid-growth spurt legs, and running down a hill chasing a school bus ending in a tumble, my sixth grade class members know me as Scab-Face. But the rest of the world sees me as Lacy. Daughter of a teacher, sister of a musician, I am an acronym.  Laura Amy Craig Y. Contrary to the popular belief of my elementary school playmates, the Y does not stand for Yucky.  It is just my sweet mother's way of making me seem unique.  It's a great conversation starter at best and a confusing legal situation at worst.  
As far as I know, there are no legitimate records to prove that Laura Amy Craig even attended middle school.  Lacy, but not Laura.  I won the state science fair in 8th grade, but the world will never know where the credit truly belongs because my records don't match the name on the lists.  Even filling out the information to create a blog I had to pick a display name. Laura, Lacy, Scab-face...? Too many options. 

Despite all this I don't think I would change my surname situation. E.L. Doctorow said that writing was the socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.  If that's true then my names match my passion and thats just dandy.  Laura for the serious days, when I'm discussing genocide, economic depression, or the day Justin Bieber starts going bald.  Lacy for the everyday humdrum that happens to suit my fancy.  And Scab-Face as a warning on those days that it's best to stay the hell out of my way.

For today, it's Lacy with a little slice of Laura and just a dash of Scab aimed at the jerk who took the professor's last butterscotch.  (Yes. You know who you are and you'll be reading this. Get the stalking problem checked out). 

Tonight in His beauty I'm learning, I'm loving, I'm standing amazed. 

-L.L.S.