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Arena Heidi
Arena Heidi

I want to apologize for not having a bio up yet. When I first made this website, I wrote a long elaborate bio for myself. I worked hard on it. But when I shared what I had written with my husband and closest friends, they all gave feedback that it wasn’t good! I somehow had failed to capture my story. I’ve written obituaries and bios for other people, and have some skill in capturing the essence of someone’s life. Just not my own! I fully intend to try again. I hope that who I am and what I value, shines through everything that I write. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Please check back here again. Eventually, one will be here.

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About My Name
About My Name

My name is actually Heidi Arena. Arena is my middle name, and it is pronounced Ah-ren-na with a soft 'e'. The Finnish pronunciation on this page is how I say my name, and how my parents pronounced it when I was growing up.  How to pronounce Arena. But I also love the Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, and Spanish pronunciations. They are close enough for me. I am astounded by the number of different pronunciations people have derived for my name. Believe me, there's even more then that website listed!

Arena was a religious name given to me when I was born, but it was not my middle name back then. My mother named me Heidi Jill, which was a perfect childhood name – it even came with a storybook and nursery rhyme!

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About Denny
About Denny

Denny is my husband. In September of 2019, after 24 years together, we married in a simple and ordinary way, at our kitchen table, with a friend who is a Justice of the Peace. However, we still do not live together much of the time. Originally, I envisioned Denny and I doing a website together, but he has other pursuits that magnetize his time. Perhaps in the future he will be inspired to write some posts, but for now I am the scribe for our shared endeavors. Articles that I write about his interests in particular, will be compiled on this page.

Denny possesses a fierce independence – he likes the freedom to do his own thing. Over the years of being with him, I have gradually come to appreciate the value of nurturing separation and space. Our relationship thrives on this balance of intimacy with autonomy.

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Steven "Stevo" Leicach
Steven "Stevo" Leicach

My good friend Stevo has been my biggest support for this website. He has tirelessly read and given editing advice for almost everything that I have posted here. I am grateful for his help.

Stevo and I met on our first day of college in 1979. Our lives have been closely intertwined ever since. I refer to Stevo as my housemate, simply because I don't know what other word to use to describe our relationship. We have lived together for most of our lives. We know each other as intimately as couples who have been married for a long time, but we have only been partners for about 10 of our early years together. Since 1995 I have been in a committed relationship with Denny.

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