My name is "Bluzette". My parents named me after a great instrumental jazz song. When I was born, my mother didn't know how to spell it but knew she wanted to name me Bluzette. The original spelling of the song is "Bluesette". It's an up tempo jazz waltz written by Jean "Toots" Thielemans. He is from Belgium. I was fortunate to meet him years ago and he told me he wrote it on a pier in France and said it had a little bit of blues in the melody so he called it "Bluesette" meaning just that.

A few years later Mel Torme and Norman Gimbel put words to the music and fortunately for me, it was a song about a girl named "Bluesette". I always say, it could've been about a boat, and I would still be "Bluzette".

For many years, I resented the name as my older brother and his friends were cruel as most kids are, but as life went on I learned to appreciate it more and more. When I was young I remember having to know how I got my name and be able to spout out the story at any given moment. I truly believe unusual and unique names build character at a young age. When you are eight years old and your friend's mother asks you how you got such an unusual name, you must be ready with an answer. I was communicating my story at a young age and now appreciate how important it was in my development as a strong, confident woman in life.

I lost my mother two years ago and she always called me "Bluzey". Now I sport vanity plates on my car that say just that.

I will say that at times for the sake of avoiding an uncomfortable conversation or throwing someone off guard I answer to the names of "Mary" or "Kelly". For instance, at a restaurant like Panera Bread or Papa Murphy's when they ask your name to be more friendly, Mary is just easier. The thought of putting an employee through the pain of guessing how to spell and pronounce Bluzette just isn't worth it to me.

That's my story and it's a constant conversation but I wouldn't have it any other way!