Backstory
Ok, ok, ok......so you want to know about the name. Here's the short version:
One of my so-called "friends" did a tarot reading for me once that was supposed to go into past lives, present life and future. (We won't debate the subject of tarot right now.....just take it as an element in the story.) During the "past" part of the reading, he interpreted what the cards said as showing that I had been involved with both religion and politics.
"Oh!" another so-called friend who heard this said. "You must have been the Pope at one time!" (I will *get* her for that statement.)
Much debate then ensued. I pointed out that I am not Catholic (and my friends pointed out, "not this time." Humph!) and that Popes are always men (to which they responded with stories about Pope Joan. Who knew?). I still maintained that I am not now, nor have I ever been, the Pope. Of anything.
This might have all blown over, except for one small, insignificant detail: my friends do not let anything die. Later that week, at a gathering in a local Bob's Big Boy (attended by 20-30 of our closest, most intimate friends and fellow science fiction enthusiasts) my so-called "friends" who had perpetrated this nonsense were regaling the assembled people (ok, anyone in earshot) with this story. I, naturally, protested my innocence. Another of my so-called "friends," injudiciously within reach, referred to me as the Pope and I slapped at him (not hard, on the arm.) I should have known better. He immediately replied, "I'm sorry, Holy Mistress," and the current crowd ran with it. Pope Dominatrix the First was created from whole cloth and promptly added to the local mythos.
That was...let's see...good grief, 12 years ago. And I have still not managed to get this pack of lies to die a quiet, ignominious death. Lord knows, I've tried. The amazing part of this is, I'm actually still speaking to the people involved. Occasionally at considerable volume, but still.
I am not now, nor have I ever been, the Pope. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
One of my so-called "friends" did a tarot reading for me once that was supposed to go into past lives, present life and future. (We won't debate the subject of tarot right now.....just take it as an element in the story.) During the "past" part of the reading, he interpreted what the cards said as showing that I had been involved with both religion and politics.
"Oh!" another so-called friend who heard this said. "You must have been the Pope at one time!" (I will *get* her for that statement.)
Much debate then ensued. I pointed out that I am not Catholic (and my friends pointed out, "not this time." Humph!) and that Popes are always men (to which they responded with stories about Pope Joan. Who knew?). I still maintained that I am not now, nor have I ever been, the Pope. Of anything.
This might have all blown over, except for one small, insignificant detail: my friends do not let anything die. Later that week, at a gathering in a local Bob's Big Boy (attended by 20-30 of our closest, most intimate friends and fellow science fiction enthusiasts) my so-called "friends" who had perpetrated this nonsense were regaling the assembled people (ok, anyone in earshot) with this story. I, naturally, protested my innocence. Another of my so-called "friends," injudiciously within reach, referred to me as the Pope and I slapped at him (not hard, on the arm.) I should have known better. He immediately replied, "I'm sorry, Holy Mistress," and the current crowd ran with it. Pope Dominatrix the First was created from whole cloth and promptly added to the local mythos.
That was...let's see...good grief, 12 years ago. And I have still not managed to get this pack of lies to die a quiet, ignominious death. Lord knows, I've tried. The amazing part of this is, I'm actually still speaking to the people involved. Occasionally at considerable volume, but still.
I am not now, nor have I ever been, the Pope. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.