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Specifically, what's in my name. There is some family history at the beginning. My Paternal grandparents were hard-shelled, foot washing Baptist in Sanderson, FL. during the early 1900's. They raised 7 children on a farm, and life was not an easy road. My impression was that the Bethea's did not care for the daughter-in law their son, Giles, brought home; never heard much about that. My parents had bad luck with babies, 2 still-born before my sister, Sonya Karen came along. I don't know if she was named for a relative or not. When I was born 3 years later, I was named for my Paternal Grandmother, Dona, but the spelling I was given was more conventional, Donna. Middle name: Claire. Now in the 1950's as TV became big, Howdy Doody and Buffalo Bob were joined by a clown named: Clara Bell. I hated Claire because it translated to Clara Bell really quickly. I probably stopped using it very early on and just didn't replace in until the early 80's. I married Raymond Alpha Solomon to escape my parents before I really did go crazy. That was 1960, and instead of graduating from high school, I had a baby at 18, in 1961. I took Ray's name, because I was supposed to! Donna Claire Bethea Solomon. Divorced. Then in 1964 I married a Sailor, David Alan Fisher. David was a fun loving privileged white boy, who really didn't want to put his nose to the grindstone of life. After years of financial insecurity, drinking and job hopping I began to realize that this marriage was not going to make 50 years, I opened a checking account in my own name Donna Bethea Fisher. This was mid 80's. Donna Bethea Solomon Fisher. Divorced, dropped the Solomon. After 10 years and a move to Tulsa, OK, I met Lonnie Ray Hardin. We dated, cohabitated, and married in 1997. I graduated from my OTA program, a month later we were wed, and a month later Lonnie's mom died of Cancer. She was so glad to see her son married, she told everyone I was the answer to her prayers. So again, I took his name, in a very conventional way. Donna Bethea Fisher Hardin. Dropped Fisher. After 13 years of marriage, my fly-boy went down in a crash. Living through those next months I knew I would never be anyone but Donna Bethea Hardin. I had to get back to the life I knew, as wife and companion, to feel whole again. So, I went Man-Shopping on Line, met Christopher Padberg and found a great companion. We have a good life together, are reasonably happy and find joy in small happenings every day. And he doesn't care what my name is! --Donna
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