How on earth did the proper pronunciation of my maiden name end up in this conversation???!!!!  Geez, and here I thought I was just quietly minding my own business!

 

Well, if you must know, Anne Marie....yes, you are absolutely right that the "H" is silent and it is pronounced "Su" (like "Sue"), though there are those with the same last name who pronounce it "Shu" (like "Shoe.")  "Hsu," however, should not be confused with "Su" or "Soo"  which are entirely  different surnames, altogether. I have cousins named "Su," but that is my adoptive aunt’s husband’s last name, so it is completely unrelated to "Hsu,"  but try telling people that, especially since my aunt grew up a "Hsu" and then married and became a "Su."  I guess that’s the problem with trying to anglicize something that does not have a Roman alphabet as a base!  

 

Growing up, the Hsu (pronounced "Su" or "Sue") kids were well-known, since there were 6 of us and we all did well in school (and were talented, popular,and good looking, too, of course.....LOL!!!), so there was no problem with teachers or other kids mispronouncing our last name.  I felt bad for the kids from a different family, same last name, who moved into town after us.  Their kids were much younger, so were constantly being asked if they were one of the "famous Hsu’s"  ("Sues").  Of course they weren’t and also pronounced their last name "Shu" ("Shoe"), so I am sure it must have been a pain for them to constantly correct people! However, their father, Dr. Hsu ("Shoe") is now my mother, Mrs. Hsu’s ("Sue’s") internist....talk about it being a small world!

 

My elder brother was a senior in high school when the Johnny Cash song "A Boy Named Sue" came out....it was like it was ’specially written for him!   But, after growing up as a "Sue," he has suddenly started referring to himself as a "Shoe".....the traitor!  My friends, who know me from before marriage, still always call me "Carol Sue"...both names strung together (like "Betty Lou" or "Peggy Sue"), and usually with an exaggerated Southern twang.  I think they think it funny to conjure me up as a blonde, blue-eyed Southern Belle, when I am anything BUT.....LOL!!!!

 

Well, I hope this has straightened it all out.....thanks for the trip down Memory Lane!  I LOVE it when I can talk about ME ME ME!!!!

 

P. S. You don’t raise pet bunny rabbits, do you????