The time has come to properly introduce myself to you. I started this blog in 2009 and had no idea what it would grow into. To say that I am pleasantly surprised is an understatement.
When I first started blogging I donned a paper bag to keep myself honest. I believed that a certain sense of anonymity would allow me to in a way be more transparent and it worked. I did feel like I could be more open, more myself, and not worry about El Qué Dirán. I would reveal my true identity to a few people here and there, but for the most part I was happy to be the blogger behind the paper bag. It felt safe.
As the blog has grown, it has become harder and harder to keep my identity a secret and if you really wanted to know you could have figured it out. I’ve left clues. I Facebook “like” my own page under my real name. I’ve “accidentally” sent emails and blog subscriptions from my personal account.
The paper bag has served me well, but it no longer feels like it is keeping me honest. It is starting to feel like I am hiding behind it and I don’t want to hide. I am ready to just be me. Even The Unknown Comic eventually revealed himself. So here goes…
This is me with a paper bag over my head. The idea of Unknown Mami was inspired by The Unknown Comic. I fancy myself funny on occasion and I am unknown to many.
This is me without the paper bag…
My name is Claudya with a “Y”. I’ll tell you the story behind that some other day. The picture above was taken 7 months into being a mami. I was desperate to connect and to have a sense of community. I missed acting and I missed making people laugh, my 7 month old did not get my jokes at all. I made the paper bag with clip art and PowerPoint.
This is me in black and white. I wear glasses full-time because I have iritis and some corneal scarring. When I started blogging, I mostly wore contacts.
This is me in technicolor in my kitchen. That is a partially eaten quesadilla in the background. Help yourself.
You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry. Just ask Unknown Papi, he doesn’t like me when I’m angry.
This is me on the day that I got married. I’m looking at Unknown Papi in this picture. I love the way I’m looking at him, like I know that he is as awesome as he is.
My future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades…
I’m just keepin’ it real in this one. I’m a busy Mami with a blog and I don’t always get to groom the way I should.
I know it’s weird, right? The drapes don’t match the ‘stache.
This is me on a good day…
This headshot was taken by my friend Ashley Forrette.
So there you have me. You now know my name (it’s Claudya, don’t worry I’m terrible at remembering names too) and you know what I look like. What does it mean for this blog? Not much.
I’ll still keep blogging the way I’ve been blogging, but if you “accidentally” catch a glimpse of me in a picture or I “slip” and sign an email with my real name it won’t be a big deal because I willingly took off the paper bag.
And don’t worry about the paper bag, I’ll still use it. I’ve become so fond of that paper bag, I almost don’t recognize myself without it.
Thank you so much for the support you’ve shown me as a blogger, a mother, and a fellow human being. Thank you for making me feel that it is okay to show the face behind the paper bag.
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