All Day! Every Day!

All Day! Every Day!

            My name is Teresa Sanchez-Arriaga. I never knew where my first name came from. I had to find out why my mom decided to name me Teresa? I didn't expect to be interesting story. She explained to me how it all got started. She said,

"You were name after your aunt and her deceased daughter. When I was pregnant by you, your aunt Teresa was determine to name you. She said to me ‘can I name my future niece when she is born?’ I was curious, I said ‘why?’ She said with a simple response ‘I just want to!’ the conversation went on for a while. Towards the end, she finally convinces me to let her name you. She put on a good fight! We left it as that. I never asked her the question again. Throughout my pregnancy she left me thinking, ‘what name is she going to pick? Why is she not telling me? Is it going to be a horrible name?’ It was driving me crazy. Originally I wanted to name you Elizabeth. But I had to keep my promise to her. The day of your birth I remember the nurse coming into the room and asked me ‘What name did you decide to name your baby girl.’ I turn my head and looked at your aunt she already had a huge smile and responded right away to the nurses ‘Teresa!’ I was in disbelieved. I said ‘You made me wait all this time and you just wanted her to be named after you?’ She said, ‘No! She is not name only after me, also after my daughter that past away’, I said to her ‘I'm glad it wasn't an ugly name!’ She just laughs. The nursed asked me ‘so... is it Teresa?’ I looked down to see you and said, ‘yes! That is my little girl name Teresa!’ I'm happy your aunt name you after her and in the memories of her daughter, it's a beautiful name. That is how you received your given name."

             I was amazed by the story, I had to know more. I called up my aunt and asked her why she named her daughter Teresa. She said proudly “I love my name so much I had to name my daughter Teresa too. If I had a chance to name anybody else I would name them Teresa also.” My aunt made me laugh. I also found out that my grandmother named all my aunts and uncles Catholic Saints names. My aunt was named after Saint Teresa of Avila. The only thing I know about St. Teresa of Avila, she was a leader, love for Jesus and his church. I made a deeper research of my name. Teresa comes from the origin of Greek, it means either “Summer”, “Harvest”, or it came from “The Greek Island of Therasia”, it’s uncertain.

            As for my last name, I have both of my parents combined in one. Sanchez is from my Grandfather, it originated from France. Arriaga is from my father; I never knew Arriaga existed until I was 16 years old and received my first California Identification. I always knew Sanchez was after my mother side of the family but didn't know my father last name. My father died when I was only one month old. Finding out I share not only his blood in my body but also his last name, it’s heartwarming! Growing up, I was known as Teresa Sanchez. Now I introduce my complete full name, Teresa Sanchez-Arriaga. I love pronouncing the double "R" in Arriaga. I can say Arriaga all day every day. When I mention my full name to anybody, I get the same reaction and response. "Wow! That is a mouth full!" I love it!

            If I had a choice to change my name, I would still chose Teresa. Why would I rename myself? I wouldn’t be who I am now. It is a beautiful name and I was named after my cosine I never meet. And lastly if I ever get married in the future, I'm going to keep my last name as my middle name. It's part of me and it’s the only thing I have from my father.