Thicknesse: Question on Pronunciation

[potioncat]

> Carol:
> Or how about "merry," "marry," and "Mary"? All homonyms for me, though
> I realize that Easterners, Southerners, and possibly Midwesterners may
> distinguish among them, or at least between one or two of the three.
> As for Brits from various regions, I have no idea.
> 


Potioncat;
Well I "see" merry differently, but I think I hear them all the same. 
Don't ask what I mean by that, but it makes sense to me. 

Our daughter's name is Sarah, a pretty name I think, but even I cringe 
when we visit my relatives in Southern US where her name becomes Say-
ruh. And of course, Kathleen is three syllables.

Back to Serious/Sirius. Must be my Southern ears. The i and e sound 
alike, which is why I ask for a straight pin or an ink pen when I want 
either, because otherwise how would you know which to give me?