Other's know me as Alan LeGros.
What's this all about?
Well it is time I was more open about this "double life I lead" with those who don't know me personally.
I am adopted. That's the first thing you need to know.
In 1970 when at the tender age of 6 months old I was brought home by my parents, Lawrence and Anne LeGros, my mother wanted to name me Andrew, but alas the adoption agency had already named me Alan Robert Keeping (a name I changed to Keiping and used as a stage name very very early on in my career). No problems right? Just change it and away you go. Well no, the local clergy would not let here (it was the beginning of the 70s in Quebec, nuff said), so she changed my middle name from Robert to Andrew and away we went.
On February 11th 2009 my mother left this world. Something inside me went snap and I decided then and there that I would no longer go by my first name of Alan but instead by my middle name of Andrew. It was what she wanted me to be named (and her real name was Dorthy Anne, the Dorthy part she hated) and damnit I always hated the name Alan.
As for the Collas vs. LeGros part. Well for those who don't speak French let me translate;
LeGros = The Big
I am 6'3" and 450lbs... not a really happy name for me.
So Collas, being my mother's maiden name, seemed like a nice fit... especially with Andrew.
Hell my Aunt Enid (a LeGros no less) said she liked Andrew Collas a lot since she felt it sounded like a writer's name. Who am I to argue?
I have every intention (once working) to get my name legally changed to Andrew Collas and live out the rest of my days as such, but for now I simply use Alan LeGros for all my legal business (banking, taxes, etc...) until that goes through.
For my friends who know me as Alan, you get a grandfather on calling me that (though I would really love you making the effort to change to Andrew if you can) and for those just meeting me, well know you know.
Cheers!
P.S. I will also accept being called Drew but never Andy! You have been warned! ;)
k, just so you know I will def try with Andrew. Changing what I've known for almost 34 years isn't going to be easy, just know I'll need a gentle reminder every so often. But I will absolutely do my best. :)
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