"Many people do dumb things in their teenage years, but most have the sense not to cast them in concrete, which they then have to drag around for the rest of their lives...
"At sixteen, I got married for the first time. My then-husband-to-be
and I thought that the woman should not take the man's last name, so we decided
to choose a new last name.
"As I recall, somewhere in there we looked at one of
those 'One Thousand Names for the Baby' books, and discovered that our old first
names had meanings we did not agree with (it was the late sixties, we did not
agree with much). (This picture was
taken maybe a year before I met Crispin. Way too young to make a lifelong decision --- self-understanding and identity are at least as blurry as this photo.)
"His old first name, Mark, meant 'the warrior'; we were anti-war. My old first name, Ellen, meant
'the Queen'; we were anti-authoritarian. It was the '60's; we didn't agree with much. He came up with the new first names for
us: Crispin, for him, meaning 'the curly-headed one'; Crescent, for me, meaning
'the growing' (once erroneously reported in a newspaper interview as meaning
'the growth').
"The wedding drew nearer. We still hadn't
come up with a new last name. One day, after trying and discarding several
possibilities, I said, 'Maybe we're taking ourselves too seriously, maybe we
should pick something completely frivolous.' He said, 'Like what?' I said, 'Oh,
um, uh, like Dragonwagon.'
"Thus we became Crescent and Crispin
Dragonwagon. If I had had any idea how many
countless thousands of times
I would have to explain this ridiculous name, I would have chosen something a
lot less flashy. But by the time I realized how long the remainder of my days
might be, and that I'd be pulling it around like a ball and chain, I already
had a couple of books out and the start of a professional reputation. (This little dragon, working industriously away at a typewriter --- remember typewriters? --- has been my logo since, let's see, about 1978. I still like it. The name has grown really old, so beyond old, for me... but I still like this dragon.)
"But, I will say ill say it's a great children's book name; kids love saying it.
Plus, I enjoy seeing how various mailing-list computers maim it. For instance, I've gotten letters from credit card companies and charities beginning, 'Dear Mr. Wagon,' and
solicitations addressed to Dr. Agonwagon. I'm just so tired of being asked about it, or being typecast as 'Enh, took too much acid in the '60's.'
" Of course, I
certainly can't blame anyone for saying "Hunh?"
when they first hear it, or asking me how I got this name, though I could very happily never ever tell the whole dumb story again as long as I live. I also can't blame anyone but myself when people, understandably but regrettably, hear the danged name and write me off as a flake, at least until they
get to know me.
"More seriously: there's also this: decisions you make early in your life look different as you mature. These days I think that at that point when I changed my name,
another strong factor was that I did not want to
get by on my parents' credit or identity . I was a writer; they were
both
writers, and semi-famous ones.
"Looking back now, I think I must've felt that if I used
their name, I was using their
reputations
and identities, instead of forming one of my own. At that age, it's
essential to make a marked break from your parents in some way. So I
do respect the pig-headedness and idealism of my sixteen-year-old
self, even while I am exasperated with her... because now I also
sometimes think, wasn't being a
professional freelance writer hard enough, did you have to make it harder on
yourself? " (Above left, an
older and hopefully wiser Dragon, in a 2009 photo by David Koff).
"But the truth is, once people know
me, they don't even notice my weird name anymore.
"By the way, Crispin and I divorced many years ago, in 1973. In
1978 I wed Ned Shank, to whom I remained happily, passionately, and interestingly
married for 23 years, until his sudden and oh-so-untimely death on November 30, 2000. What happened then? This blog will more or less get you up to date. But as its title indicates, I think none of it ---losing Ned so terribly, and even yes, way earlier, choosing such a ridiculous name when I was a baby radical --- none of it has been wasted on me as a writer. "
Crescent, I met you at the airport in Hartford> I was the gate agent that is interested in becoming a children's writer. I just wanted to say Hi and I'm glad to have met you! Your name story is interesting, Yes, I understand being exhausted with repeated explanations over the years. Good luck to you and I hope to attend one of your workshops.
Posted by: JoAnne W. Felchner | January 13, 2009 at 01:28 PM
For kicks one day I told the promoters of a show that I wanted to billed as Balooky Klujypop, from a children's book by Ivor Cutler. fortunately the name only stuck among a very small circle of frenz. I can imagine however getting it into my head that I needed to be legally Balooky J. Klujypop, and what that would have entailed. My own given surname is mangled enough: macKillop (we pronounce it m'Killup -ish) but many people don't even try saying it "Mac… ?"
I love your Soup and Bread book. tomorrow I will go to the library and have a look at your children's books. thnx for a lot of good meals, esp the buttermilk cornbread recipe - I started making w/ purple cornmeal and tho slightly drier, mebbe better.
Posted by: kenneth macKillop | March 23, 2009 at 12:06 AM
Hi Crescent,
I was delighted to hear you speak last night at the library. I noted a Tree of Life motif in your talk. If you would ever like to read a true and magical account I wrote about tree communication,just ask.
I love your name but understand the annoyance of having to explain so often. My mother from Virginia used to call me Allen, after her mother's maiden name. (In Virginia I met girls called Dabney, Carter, Blair, Lindsay, Sydney, Marshall--family names-- OR Lulah Lipop, and all the other double, ultra-fem. ones). Now I go by a name I chose.
What I love Southern culture for, answering the question I asked you, is the great oral tradition--storytelling, humor, conversation and motivational talk. And I wanted to mention a funny, half great book called Confessions of A Failed Southern Lady by Florence King.
Going out to buy The Cornbread Gospels!
Posted by: Cecelia Blair | March 27, 2009 at 04:51 PM
Hi there. Love your unusual name and the story behind it. Also love the Cornbread Gospels cookbook my mom got for me. Tried three recipes so far. All are great. I got laid off a couple of years ago to Chinese outsourcing and am now trying to make it on my own following my hobby/passion/obsession; artistic blacksmithing. Three cheers for individualism! Will
Posted by: Will Slagel | June 12, 2009 at 02:00 AM
Crescent, will you please come back to Eureka Springs, Arkansas? We are many times visitors to Eureka Springs, and nothing is the same since you left here.
Gary Wayland
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Posted by: gary Wayland | August 20, 2009 at 12:02 AM
Ah, Gary... thank you (I think!) but I am slowly getting more and more deeply rooted in my present community. I LOVED my years in Eureka, but they came to an end. As we all do, eventually. "Life is change" --- we hear it all the time, we know it, and yet, it's startling when it happens, isn't it? When something we unknowingly took for granted alters? Good timing on yr note; just found out my beloved yoga teacher, who was a big part of my bridge to living in this part of the world, is moving so I too am struggling w/ wanting to make the wheel move backwards. But it only goes one way - forward. I know you'll find much to love in ES as it is. P.S. I do come back to visit --- will next be there in February.
Wishing you joy --- cd
Posted by: CD | August 20, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Thank you for coming to Springfield, Vt. to talk to us about your corn bread book. You are a dynamic speaker and so happy that we can claim you as a Vermonter now. Will enjoy buying books that you have published. What a treat to learn about your work.
Posted by: Shereen Letz | September 02, 2009 at 09:49 AM
Thank you, Shereen! What a nice surprise to find this here!
Posted by: CD | September 02, 2009 at 10:09 AM
Hi Crescent!
I met you a couple of years ago when you came to Springfield, Missouri. You were at a book signing at the Waverly House. I had read about you in the local newspaper from time to time when you lived in Eureka Springs. Since yours is a name that you don't forget, I read in November of 2007 that you were going to be at the Waverly House. My curiousity got the best of me. I had to go see what a Crescent Dragonwagon looked like. I stood in line for an hour to get my turn to talk to you. In that time after overhearing your conversations with everyone, by the time it was my turn I felt like I had known you for years. I was so impressed with the way that you focus on each person when it is their turn to talk with you. You were never in a hurry to rush them on because you had a huge line of people waiting, you answered every dumb question like you've never heard it before, you were enthusiastic and caring. I bought 3 of your books and you signed each one. I told you that you didn't need to sign each one, but you went a step further and not only signed them but personalized each one from the conversation that we had. I almost cried when I walked away from you. I told my husband that I have a new best friend that I may never see again. I so wish I had known you when you were in Eureka Springs. We're about the same age and I really do think we would have been friends. Do you have any plans to come back to Springfield or Eureka Springs to visit in the next few months?
I'm getting ready to buy your Passionate Vegetarian cookbook. I have about worn out The Dairy Hollow House Cookbook, Dairy Hollow House Soup & Bread and The Cornbread Gospels. The New World Corn Chowder and the Dairy Hollow House Skillet-Sizzled Cornbread are a staple at our house in the winter. I just can't get enough of them! We have an annual Christmas Eve party at our house for family and friends. Two Christmases ago I made your cornbread during the party. It came out of the oven and I set it on the stovetop. People came over and started eating it right out of the pan and it was gone in no time! Last year when I sent out invitations, one of the RSVPs included a note that said that she would only come if I was going to make that cornbread again. Of course I made it and it was gobbled up right away again.
I thank you for your cookbooks, your personal tidbits, your stories, your humor and your friendship. I know I don't know you but I sure feel like I do and I do hope we meet again. I hope you are happy and may God bless you abundantly!
Posted by: Linda Aaron | September 02, 2009 at 12:55 PM
Crescent,
Thanks so much for this explanation to your name. I love it! Your cookbooks are my favorites and I cook out of them so often that when people ask me about the recipe and I refer them to your cookbooks I get the funny looks for your crazy name. And to me your cookbooks aren't really cookbooks they are regular books. I have read each of them cover to cover just like a novel. The read that well. Thank you so much for your work.
Posted by: Kim Schaufenbuel | October 12, 2009 at 08:29 AM
I just found your blog. I was saddened to hear about Ned's death. I received a copy of your "Dairy Hollow House Soup and Bread Cookbook" as a wedding present, so you and Ned were my constant companions in the kitchen as I was learning how to cook and bake bread. (In fact, I think I worked my way through almost all of the breads, except for the multi-grain bread that required some good homemade granola, because your Dairy Hollow House Cookbook was out of print, and I couldn't find a copy at the time.) I owe my love of cooking and baking to you. Thank you for your wonderful work!
Posted by: terri | October 23, 2009 at 06:04 PM
I just told my son, Quinn, that he had a second cousin (once removed) named Crescent Dragonwagon and he absolutely refused to believe me!
Posted by: Nina Zolotow | December 08, 2009 at 11:48 PM
This morning I got up and felt like baking something sweet, like coffee cake. This is unusual for me because I'm always on a diet. I have a lot of cookbooks because I love to read the recipes, but I rarely make any of the recipes. Anyway, I pulled out The Dairy Hollow House Cookbook. I live in California but I called your Inn in Nov 1997 and ordered this cookbook (the credit card receipt from the Inn was still inside the cookbook). I read the cookbook when I got it, then put it on a shelf. Today I opened it for the first time since then and made the Bountiful Blueberry Muffins (since I already had frozen blueberries from Costco). They were great! I decided to check out your website and was led to this blog. This has made me feel excited about cooking/baking again. I can't believe I let that great cookbook sit on my shelf for over 12 years! I also have the Soup & Bread Cookbook which I plan to crack open. Thank you for inspiring me. I also always thought it was an extra nice touch that the Inn sent me a signed copy. Thanks again.
Posted by: Jo Jorgenson-Deme | January 09, 2010 at 02:12 PM
Crescent,
Thank you so much for all the wonderful recipes. I have just ordered a used copy of the Soup & bread cookbook because my dog ate my first copy. Penelope apparently thought it was delicious. I think I'll just stick with the wonderful recipes inside. I just hope the original stays together long enough until the new one comes!
Posted by: Nancy | March 05, 2010 at 12:28 AM
hahaha that nice story about the name for your children, my wife and I casually discussed a lot about this issue too until we reached a mutual agreement, excellent blog.
Posted by: tinea corporis | May 04, 2010 at 06:06 PM
Hello Crescent - I'm working on a newsletter for Green Mountain RSVP(We coordinate the work of volunteers age 55 and over in Bennington, Windham & Windsor Counties.) We saw your recipe for Peach Shortcake in American Profile and it looked so yummy we decided to add it to the newsletter. My question is, can we substitute more butter for the vegetable shortening? We think the butter would total 2/3 of a cup. What do you think? We'd like to send our newsletter to you when it's finished so you can learn about RSVP. We love your blog!
Posted by: Susan Armstrong | July 01, 2010 at 02:36 PM
Crescent - your latest book could also be entitled "Compassionate Vegetarian." Having eliminated many foods because of various reasons, I was completely uninterested in cooking any more. I read the Dairy HOllow House Cookbook, then found a copy of The Passionate Vegetarian. THis is the first vegetarian book I've come across that understands the challenges meat eaters/reluctant vegetarians have in making changes. You gave wonderful descriptions of foods, and many instances of variations possible.
Thanks so much!
Ginny
Posted by: Ginny Krauskopf | July 30, 2010 at 11:27 PM
Ginny! What a lovely surprise to find on a coolish New England summer morning! I worked so hard in writing that book, and for so long... it always truly pleases me when someone takes the time to let me know that PV has made a difference in their life and kitchen. I am touched and feel most privileged to have been helpful to you. And I LOVE inviting people into ingredients they may not yet have discovered...
In the no good deed goes unpunished department, should you feel like saying these terrific things on, say, an amazon reader review... well, I surely would have no objections. But whether or not you do, THANK YOU! Happy, satisfying abundant cooking to you, Ginny ---
cd
Posted by: Crescent Dragonwagon | July 31, 2010 at 09:50 AM
I love your name but understand the annoyance of having to explain so often. My mother from Virginia used to call me Allen, after her mother's maiden name. (In Virginia I met girls called Dabney, Carter, Blair, Lindsay, Sydney, Marshall--family names-- OR Lulah Lipop, and all the other double, ultra-fem. ones). Now I go by a name I chose. http://www.hotfilemediafire.com
Posted by: Joey | September 02, 2010 at 12:03 PM
The first time I heard your name I thought it was full of poetry and adventure, and a little strange, but that is also what Eureka was and will always be in my memories of that magical place in the Oz Ark plateau. I have not read your books (yet) but I am putting them on my list as soon as I find it.
Balooky J. Klujypop. Now THAT is a weird name.
&: {)
Posted by: Rainbojangles | October 09, 2010 at 03:41 PM
Hello at last! I recommended your book to the cookbook author/gardener Renee Shepherd once at a book talk she gave in town and she put the bug in my ear to go online to see what you've been up to. That was several years ago, and I thought - what a great idea, I never thought of that. But I never took the time to do it. Tonight I was looking for something to do with winter squash and flipped to the last page of The Passionate Vegetarian, read again what you wrote, and decided to find you online. Now that I am here, I am chuckling at the answer to "Is that your real name?" because I have always told everyone that it is...I've always assumed your parents had a wonderful sense of humor plus love of language. Oh, and by "everyone," who asks, I mean all of my gardening friends (vegetarian cookbooks, I've found, are a tremendous resource when the garden comes in in force and you just can't choke down another bean or whatever), vegetarian friends, carnivorous friends with vegetarian children, and just about anyone who has tasted my (oh, I guess I mean your...actually Pamela Jones') absolutely incredible roasted salsa, or my (your) corn/buckwheat pancakes. ( I make them without the roasty vegetables and slather them with our own backyard maple syrup. ) I've gifted several copies of your book PV-the last time as a wedding present to my daughter's friends who are vegetarians/organic gardeners, ( and I wasn't even invited to the wedding...I just wanted them to have it ) since as much as I love your recipes, and your writing, I really do consider it more of a love story than a cookbook and am in awe of your monumentally loving tribute to your late husband. Thank you so much for this lovely wonderful book. I'm so glad to have a chance to finally tell you how much I've loved it. I am not overusing the word love...I just can't think of another word more appropriate...it applies this many times and more. On a more current note, I'm a preschool teacher, so I was so thrilled to have recently discovered your children's book "Alligator Arrived with Apples." This year we had a Thanksgiving feast after I read both your book and "Potluck" to the children. The administrators showed up and looked perplexed by the spread of carrots ( Caleigh ), apples (Alex ), rolls (Rhiley), cheese ( Chase ), etc. Not very traditional, but so so fun and educational. I take that back. It will be tradition from now on. Thanks again.
Posted by: julie | January 24, 2011 at 07:48 PM
Crescent:
We took Allison's class together last Sunday at Peoples Yoga in Portland.
In a perfect world, I would be in Vermont this Labor Day weekend taking The Whole Enchilada class, but I'll have to settle for taking the regular class next time you're in Portland or in Seattle.
It was a pleasure meeting you!
Posted by: Chrissy LaVielle | March 01, 2011 at 04:17 PM
My dear Crescent,
You know, you don't _have_ to explain your name to anyone. I firmly believe in everyone's right to be known by whatever name they like: the one their parents gave them, or something else entirely. You don't owe anyone a justification. You could just smile, shrug, and say, "It's sort of a pen-name that stuck."
I was named Jennifer at birth, and while it's a lovely name, it's oppressively common in my generation (rivaled in the Western world only by the commonness of Mary in 19th century England). Several years ago I changed it to Gwenivere. Both names are derived from the Welsh Gwenhwyfar. I chose the spelling to mirror the vowel pattern in Jennifer, but now I realize it's irrelevant because I'm not going to explain to people, "Well, my name used to be..." Should've just gone with a more obvious spelling. Anyway, now my name is Gwenivere; I don't self-associate to Jennifer anymore. (I just go by Gwen, anyway.)
If people ask if Gwenivere is my "real" (?!) name, 1) it's none of their business and 2) I'll lie to them if I feel like it. When did it become okay to ask strangers such personal questions?!
Anyway, that's my two cents. I enjoyed your story about your name, but I don't think you should wear yourself out telling it, especially if you don't want to! :)
Posted by: Gwen | March 09, 2011 at 10:55 PM
I'd like to add here that because of your name you had me at Half a Moon and One Whole Star ! I've been a fan ever since and I'm pleasantly surprised that I just happened to stumble upon your blog when looking for something else entirely. I want to add you as a favorite on my blogspot. I hope you don't mind. I found your entry about your father very heartwarming and inspiring, by the way.
Thanks for all !
The Castle Lady
Posted by: Evelyn, The Castle Lady | March 10, 2011 at 02:01 AM
Thank you, thank you, Evelyn! My father so shaped and inspired me... it makes me happy to pass it along. May I live up to your generous words!
Posted by: Crescent Dragonwagon | March 11, 2011 at 12:38 AM
That's a nice little story about your name, Crescent. Interesting!
Posted by: Adult Tricycle, Laura | May 30, 2011 at 07:49 AM
I have your "Passionate Vegeterian" book on my bookshelf, and I had never noticed the authors name, when I saw it I had to search online to see if it was your real name. It looked so flaky I had to find out more, and now that I know the story I think you are awesome and I am your fan!
Posted by: Daud | August 14, 2011 at 12:08 PM
Crescent—
You're awesome! I just wanted to give you a 'heads up' that I am mentioning you in my vegan cooking blog.
I hope that's okay <3
Posted by: zaK | November 20, 2011 at 04:55 PM
Thank you, Zak! Cant wait to see it... happy cooking. xxoo
Posted by: Crescent Dragonwagon | November 20, 2011 at 05:35 PM
You are a dynamic speaker and so happy that we can claim you as a Vermonter now. Will enjoy buying books that you have published. What a treat to learn about your work.
Posted by: funny facebook statuses | November 22, 2011 at 06:55 AM
I LOVE this! What a sweet kiss to blow me across the whirling pages of cyber space this a.m.! Are you Nancy Hall (I *believe* that was/is , your/her name... there were painkillers cloudifying memory due to back spasm) who Diane introduced me to at Sojourns yesterday? Or...? In any case, THANK YOU...
Posted by: Crescent | November 22, 2011 at 08:28 AM
Hi! Just strayed over here from ozarque.livejournal.com and thought I'd mention that I still own copies of "To Take a Dare" and "The Year It Rained" (from back when the latter was new). I'd like to link this blog to priscillaking.blogspot.com.
Posted by: Priscilla King | November 28, 2011 at 05:01 PM
Dear Madame Dragonwagon, There may come an era when you will not have to make this explanation. When I told the Fine Young Cannibal (my teenager) that you had beFriended me on Facebook, his face LIT UP! He repeated your name a couple of times like the description of a velvety dessert, but didn't pose a single question about its origin or authenticity.
Your name was its own reward. May it always so be...
M
Posted by: Mysti Easterwood | December 12, 2011 at 07:20 PM
Myst! Yes, young children, teenagers, eldercare, care trouble, illness... all just wreak havoc with practice --- writing practice and others (like working out, or going for walks, or meditating, or whatever). Although "it" doesn't wait indefinitely, and although "it" responds more and more the more we show up, the good news is that when we return "it" says, "Well, there you are! I've been waiting for you! Let's go!" Ah yes, the cool parents illusion. One I'm sure I would have suffered from and with had I had kids...
Posted by: Crescent | December 12, 2011 at 07:22 PM
Impressive blog! -Arron
Posted by: rc helicopter | December 21, 2011 at 05:05 AM
Thank you, Priscilla --- so glad!
Posted by: Crescent | January 02, 2012 at 11:08 AM
Thank you, Arron... fine compliment, that you find this "impressive": even more, I hope for "inspiring" --- as in, do your own writing or other great work!
Posted by: Crescent | January 02, 2012 at 11:13 AM
Just stumbled upon your name fron the On Point website...did you once/still live in Des Moines, IA?
Posted by: Karen | February 16, 2012 at 10:45 AM
Karen, I never lived in Iopwa, but my darling late husband, Ned Shank, was an Ames native and went to Gronnell and was thus in and out of Des Moines..
Posted by: Crescent | February 19, 2012 at 11:05 PM
Hi Crescent,
I am excited to learn about you in today's Boston Globe, and plan to check out your cookbooks, and other books right away -- way too cool. We may have shared landlords in Brooklyn back in the day -- did you live in one of the houses on South Eliot St. (across from Brooklyn Tech), owned by the Millers? A group of us started another commune on Carlton Ave. (a few blocks up, off Lafayette Ave., past Fort Green Park); in a house also owned by the Millers, a kind family from Westchester County who gave my kids some beautiful hand-me-downs. Buen Provecho!
Posted by: Edy Rees | April 11, 2012 at 05:26 PM
Hello Crescent,
I remember you telling me about a poster that hung above your bed and somehow that poster was connected to your new last name. That was a thousand years ago when John and I picked you up hitchhiking in Putney. It has been wonderful hearing about you during the last 40 years and I am so happy that you have found your way back to Vermont. Alice (Bunny in 1970 not so much now)
Posted by: Alice (Bunny) Creagh | April 24, 2012 at 09:29 AM
Came across your site while browsing around…cool stuff you have going on here. Choosing names for the children may some times lead to an open conflict... As long as the humor reigns, everything is OK !
Posted by: walking cane | February 16, 2013 at 02:33 AM