After he threw a raging party, breaking Dartmouth and federal law during Prohibition, Theodor Geisel, was fired from his job as editor-in-chief of the college’s Jack-O-Lantern magazine. However, Theodor kept writing for the humor magazine by signing his work under his middle name—Seuss. Years later, when his first book was published, Seuss added the “Dr.” as a joke at the expense of his father, who always wanted him to pursue a medical career. Read the entire article here.
Dr. Suess seemed to have his reasons for his nom de plume, but why on earth do some authors go to such great lengths to hide identity by using a pen name? It seems that one would desire to be recognized for his or her great contributions to society and not try to keep identity a secret.
There are many reasons one might choose to remain nameless and opt for a pen name: the way a name sounds, how common a name is, scared of rejection, to mask gender, to market or maybe it’s just cool.
In fact, I might enjoy creating a new identity. I could try to use all of the letters of my name and create a new nom de plume.
Fr. Johnnie T. Munchichi
Except that has a dreadful sound to it.
I’ll go with Claire Adaire because it rhymes, for it’s meaning of clear, bright and blessed and Claire was the name of my great grandmother. I think these are all noteworthy reasons why I'll be Claire Adaire. Except that I'm telling you and it's supposed to be a secret.
Whatever the reason, I Claire Adaire, would like to thank my Mister and Miss Anonymous. I find no way to express my gratitude for your support. I imagine you know who you are.
And yet I think it’s important to practice being anonymous sometimes. You remind me of this some how.
Don't neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it. Heb 13:2
I regretted being anonymous once when I pulled over in the middle of the night to pray with a young teenager who got in a car accident a few years back. She was physically upset about the reaction she would receive from her father’s lashings about her “careless” behavior. She insisted there was no way he would welcome her into his arms with a joyous realization that she is ok. I left her with her raging father and the paramedic and forgot to tell her my name and contact information so I could follow up with her. I had wished that I did at the time.
But, perhaps it’s important to be nameless sometimes and in so doing
let God be the Name that is forever greater than our own.
To my Anonymous,
Thank you.
