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A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME
I remember how it made me think when I first heard Juliet exclaim,
after falling in love with Romeo…a Montague…What is in a name?
The different feeling it evokes depending on which name someone is choosing…
The different emotions that arise from whatever name they’re using
.
My parents christened me James and introduced me to my first synonym…
for no one has ever called me James…everyone calls me Jim.
When I became a father…Jim was not the only name I had…
I love the feeling I always get when my children call me Dad.
And there is a different feeling of excitement that rises to the top…
when my grandchildren come around and I hear the name PopPop.
It’s hard to put into words when I hear my names…the joy it awakens in me…
especially on those days when I happen to hear all three.
But how it makes me feel when it is spoken…should not be my ultimate aim…
It should be how it makes other people feel….when they say my name.
It should be my goal to have a name that when uttered…people will revere it…
That they get as much pleasure when they say my name…
as I do when I hear it.
For then and only then will my life’s meaning be complete…
if to the ears of anyone who says my name…
it always sounds as sweet.
