"That's an interesting name. " This is the comment I usually receive when I tell people about my blog, a reaction that is obviously moderated in an attempt to be polite. Inevitably, this leads to a discussion of the creative, literary, historical or otherwise original source for the names on my blog: this includes my pseudonym, my column titles, the web addresses and the domain names. At long last, here is my attempt to put it down on paper, for you dear reader; or for anyone who would be so intrigued.
The obvious assumption would be that I start with an explanation for Avishag Bat-Shunam, the profile name and the name associated with this blogs Gmail account. However, Oyster in the Bay is the name of my first blog, and will hopefully be the name of my debut novel. As such, it's origins predate and were a precursor to the pen name. My alter ego only came to be when I set out to share my ideas and searched for a friend to represent me and protect my anonymity. Avishag has been a great conduit, through which I am able to express my inner exotic. A true confidante, albeit of my own creation. Her essence precisely captures the idea of an oyster searching for its Bay.
Inspiration for this blog came from a conversation I had with a potential editor of my dreams of an incredibly creative and therapeutic novel. I know for certain this novel has an original plot, and if for no one else, it has thus far been therapeutic for me. The novel will follow the life of an idealistic bride who is pulled in many directions in relation to her family obligations, religious affiliation and philosophical perspectives. As a symbol of her confusion and sense of rootlessness the plot has her literally travel and relocate with her young family from place to place around the globe and across the fruited plains (euphemism for the United States of America.)
There is a well known cliche that encapsulates this quest, for it is a road that every person embarks upon, in some level, at some point in their life. The world is your oyster, is kind of a catchphrase that encapsulates an image of all the choices standing before you. Jordan Peterson, psychologist and researcher, states that this is one of the key challenges of maturity; seeing the choices still open to you and coming to terms with the fact that each choice inevitably closes the door to others. Learning to let go of your dreams so that you can focus and accept the known and unknown consequences that follows each fork in the road.
The name and description of this blog is a play on words of the original phrase that heeds a person to recognize the joy of having a world full of opportunities, while respecting the paralyzing fear that comes with the task and responsibility of choices, in other words, adulthood. As human beings, we are all, ultimately, on a search to each find our place in the universe. To quote the wise mother in "Cheaper by the Dozen 2" (one of my favorites to movies) : "Life is a journey that is homeward bound".
The obvious assumption would be that I start with an explanation for Avishag Bat-Shunam, the profile name and the name associated with this blogs Gmail account. However, Oyster in the Bay is the name of my first blog, and will hopefully be the name of my debut novel. As such, it's origins predate and were a precursor to the pen name. My alter ego only came to be when I set out to share my ideas and searched for a friend to represent me and protect my anonymity. Avishag has been a great conduit, through which I am able to express my inner exotic. A true confidante, albeit of my own creation. Her essence precisely captures the idea of an oyster searching for its Bay.
Inspiration for this blog came from a conversation I had with a potential editor of my dreams of an incredibly creative and therapeutic novel. I know for certain this novel has an original plot, and if for no one else, it has thus far been therapeutic for me. The novel will follow the life of an idealistic bride who is pulled in many directions in relation to her family obligations, religious affiliation and philosophical perspectives. As a symbol of her confusion and sense of rootlessness the plot has her literally travel and relocate with her young family from place to place around the globe and across the fruited plains (euphemism for the United States of America.)
There is a well known cliche that encapsulates this quest, for it is a road that every person embarks upon, in some level, at some point in their life. The world is your oyster, is kind of a catchphrase that encapsulates an image of all the choices standing before you. Jordan Peterson, psychologist and researcher, states that this is one of the key challenges of maturity; seeing the choices still open to you and coming to terms with the fact that each choice inevitably closes the door to others. Learning to let go of your dreams so that you can focus and accept the known and unknown consequences that follows each fork in the road.
The name and description of this blog is a play on words of the original phrase that heeds a person to recognize the joy of having a world full of opportunities, while respecting the paralyzing fear that comes with the task and responsibility of choices, in other words, adulthood. As human beings, we are all, ultimately, on a search to each find our place in the universe. To quote the wise mother in "Cheaper by the Dozen 2" (one of my favorites to movies) : "Life is a journey that is homeward bound".
Added note: Life is about the goals we are working to achieve, hence in some respect we are always on the road. Yet make sure to recognize, that wherever you are, for that moment in time, that is where you are meant to be. We never reach our peak, because there is always a farther destination and every time period is just a stage. Standing in the eye of the storm, embrace the rain!
