What’s In A Name?

Thirty-nine years ago, I was finally given the vote.

My mom had taken a taxi to the hospital during a raging snowstorm, in order to give birth to my baby sister, Bridget. She travelled alone that day.

My father, who was recovering from the heart attack he’d had a couple months earlier, was forbidden by his doctor to go with her because the whole mess might cause him “too much excitement.”

It’s weird, I guess, but because of my family dynamics, I’ve felt responsible for my mother from a very young age—eight, to be exact. But by that day all those many wintry days ago, I’d already achieved the ripe old age of thirteen.

I stayed home with my three younger siblings, trying to keep them and my dad calm while Mom labored and delivered a couple of blizzardy miles away.

I still remember how proud I felt of her and her pluck when she called home within minutes of the new baby’s birth.

“You get to vote on the name,” she said. “Shall we name her Valerie Jane, Bridget Maureen, or Bridget Colleen?”

I relayed the choices to the family, and tallied their responses.

“It’s unanimous,” I told Mom. “We all vote for Bridget Colleen.”

I still don’t know if that’s the name she would have chosen if left to her own particular taste, but she was more than happy to go along with majority rule. Which is kind of amazing, really, when I consider what a thing she has for names.

“If I ever have girl triplets,” she used to tell me as she neared the end of her child-bearing years, “I’m going to name them Valerie, Victoria, and Veronica.”

Lately, she’s raised objections when one of her grandchildren or great-grandchildren receives a name she isn’t fond of. My niece’s son, Cash, was already baptized and my mother still sent his mom and dad a letter listing her choices for alternative names.

The thing is, she’s always preferred rather traditional names—until now.

“I was awake all night trying to think of the perfect name for my beautician’s new little girl,” she told me yesterday. “The baby was born on Christmas and they still haven’t named her.”

“What did you decide?” I asked.

“Welcome Day.”

“So, Mom, are you saying that the baby’s last name is Day?”

“No. I’m saying her name should be Welcome Day.”

I’d love to say she was kidding, but that would be a blatant lie. She was as serious as death.

Later last night, when I told my sister Mary this story, she said, “Mom told me she’d picked the perfect name, too, only it was a different name. I’m not sure you want to know what she said.”

“Go ahead, Mary. I can take it.”

“Miracle Baby.”

I can still remember the thrill I felt when my mother gave me the all-important vote those many years ago. These days, though, my vote carries a weight of responsiblity for her well-being that I couldn’t begin to imagine then.

And the saddest part is that Mom’s vote doesn’t count for much of anything at all.

Welcome Day, indeed.

Posted by Katy on 01/20/06 at 06:54 PM

Fallible Comments...

So it's your fault your baby sister Bridget turned out so well!

Take Care
Michael
Posted by Michael #2 on 01/20/06 at 08:41 PM
Actually, I think Welcome Day is an intriguing name. Maybe you should use it in a story?

I know it's hard with your mom, Katy, but I hope you know you're an inspiration to many the way you serve her and manage to tell about it with humor.

Grace for your journey, friend.

Love, Jeanne
Posted by Jeanne Damoff on 01/20/06 at 10:53 PM
Michael #2--Hey! You know what I think? I think we should prevail upon that girl to BLOG! She's a slacker, but a mighty cute one. And I AM very proud of the baby! :)

Jeanne--All of life is fodder for the writer, eh? We both know it's true. Thank you for the grace. I needed it. These really are our jouneys, aren't they? The ones God's given us. No matter what, I've never been tempted to trade trips with anyone else. "She who endures to the end..." and all that. Love to you, too!
Posted by Katy on 01/20/06 at 11:09 PM
Katy,
You do have an amazing way of recounting the tales of your journey with an aging parent. And all the while giving encouragement to those of us who are bound to come upon those same checkpoints in our journeys all too soon.
Posted by Lauren on 01/21/06 at 03:40 AM
I thought of you today when I was looking at a list of baby names and came across the name Welcome in the W's section. ;) It's an English name, and it means... *drum roll* "Welcome, Guest."
Posted by Hannah (a random reader) on 01/22/06 at 05:58 AM
Lauren--Thank you. I hesitate sometimes to post another entry regarding Mom, but what can I say? This is the road I'm travelling now--with her. I hope my experiences will somehow hearten others who, as you say, will face this sooner or later.

Hannah--Wonderful! I love counting upon my readers to make my mother seem a little more "mainstream" than I fear she is. I've posted things she's said before that I don't "get," and a reader will come to her defense and say, "I knew exactly what she was going for!" (Like when she referred to Tuesday and Wednesday as "a two and a three"--their position in the five-day work week.) You've made me feel a lot better! :)
Posted by Katy on 01/22/06 at 06:48 PM
Katy,
I have to admit I have always loved my name! I wouldn't want to have any other...I mean, how Irish can you get with Bridget Colleen McKenna?!
Thanks for the vote, and for being a great sister! :)
Posted by Bridget on 01/26/06 at 05:57 PM
Bridgie--Your name is perfect for the bonny Irish lass you are! Happy Birthday, baby girl.
Posted by Katy on 01/26/06 at 06:04 PM
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Personal blog of christian writer & fallible mom Katy McKenna Raymond in Kansas City, Missouri Katy is represented by Greg Johnson at WordServe Literary Read more Katy at LateBoomer.net Follow Katy on Twitter Follow Katy on Facebook 123 Recent Posts Try Becoming Brenda Starr Off Beat Scattered That’s It So I’ve Finally Signed With An Agent. Now What? The Spoon Sciatica Sweetheart A Woman’s Train of Thought Has No Caboose However much we own, we are all still living on borrowed time After all, when restaurants shrink portions, they don’t shrink prices. As with everything in life, balance is key. Slow down, you move too fast… Yeah, I know. I have issues. Search Advanced Search Syndicate Login E me at katy @ ngenius.com	What’s In A Name? Thirty-nine years ago, I was finally given the vote. My mom had taken a taxi to the hospital during a raging snowstorm, in order to give birth to my baby sister, Bridget. She travelled alone that day. My father, who was recovering from the heart attack he’d had a couple months earlier, was forbidden by his doctor to go with her because the whole mess might cause him “too much excitement.” It’s weird, I guess, but because of my family dynamics, I’ve felt responsible for my mother from a very young age—eight, to be exact. But by that day all those many wintry days ago, I’d already achieved the ripe old age of thirteen. I stayed home with my three younger siblings, trying to keep them and my dad calm while Mom labored and delivered a couple of blizzardy miles away. I still remember how proud I felt of her and her pluck when she called home within minutes of the new baby’s birth. “You get to vote on the name,” she said. “Shall we name her Valerie Jane, Bridget Maureen, or Bridget Colleen?” I relayed the choices to the family, and tallied their responses. “It’s unanimous,” I told Mom. “We all vote for Bridget Colleen.” I still don’t know if that’s the name she would have chosen if left to her own particular taste, but she was more than happy to go along with majority rule. Which is kind of amazing, really, when I consider what a thing she has for names. “If I ever have girl triplets,” she used to tell me as she neared the end of her child-bearing years, “I’m going to name them Valerie, Victoria, and Veronica.” Lately, she’s raised objections when one of her grandchildren or great-grandchildren receives a name she isn’t fond of. My niece’s son, Cash, was already baptized and my mother still sent his mom and dad a letter listing her choices for alternative names. The thing is, she’s always preferred rather traditional names—until now. “I was awake all night trying to think of the perfect name for my beautician’s new little girl,” she told me yesterday. “The baby was born on Christmas and they still haven’t named her.” “What did you decide?” I asked. “Welcome Day.” “So, Mom, are you saying that the baby’s last name is Day?” “No. I’m saying her name should be Welcome Day.” I’d love to say she was kidding, but that would be a blatant lie. She was as serious as death. Later last night, when I told my sister Mary this story, she said, “Mom told me she’d picked the perfect name, too, only it was a different name. I’m not sure you want to know what she said.” “Go ahead, Mary. I can take it.” “Miracle Baby.” I can still remember the thrill I felt when my mother gave me the all-important vote those many years ago. These days, though, my vote carries a weight of responsiblity for her well-being that I couldn’t begin to imagine then. And the saddest part is that Mom’s vote doesn’t count for much of anything at all. Welcome Day, indeed. Posted by Katy on 01/20/06 at 06:54 PM Fallible Comments... So it's your fault your baby sister Bridget turned out so well! Take Care Michael Posted by Michael #2 on 01/20/06 at 08:41 PM Actually, I think Welcome Day is an intriguing name. Maybe you should use it in a story? I know it's hard with your mom, Katy, but I hope you know you're an inspiration to many the way you serve her and manage to tell about it with humor. Grace for your journey, friend. Love, Jeanne Posted by Jeanne Damoff on 01/20/06 at 10:53 PM Michael #2--Hey! You know what I think? I think we should prevail upon that girl to BLOG! She's a slacker, but a mighty cute one. And I AM very proud of the baby! :) Jeanne--All of life is fodder for the writer, eh? We both know it's true. Thank you for the grace. I needed it. These really are our jouneys, aren't they? The ones God's given us. No matter what, I've never been tempted to trade trips with anyone else. "She who endures to the end..." and all that. Love to you, too! Posted by Katy on 01/20/06 at 11:09 PM Katy, You do have an amazing way of recounting the tales of your journey with an aging parent. And all the while giving encouragement to those of us who are bound to come upon those same checkpoints in our journeys all too soon. Posted by Lauren on 01/21/06 at 03:40 AM I thought of you today when I was looking at a list of baby names and came across the name Welcome in the W's section. ;) It's an English name, and it means... drum roll "Welcome, Guest." Posted by Hannah (a random reader) on 01/22/06 at 05:58 AM Lauren--Thank you. I hesitate sometimes to post another entry regarding Mom, but what can I say? This is the road I'm travelling now--with her. I hope my experiences will somehow hearten others who, as you say, will face this sooner or later. Hannah--Wonderful! I love counting upon my readers to make my mother seem a little more "mainstream" than I fear she is. I've posted things she's said before that I don't "get," and a reader will come to her defense and say, "I knew exactly what she was going for!" (Like when she referred to Tuesday and Wednesday as "a two and a three"--their position in the five-day work week.) You've made me feel a lot better! :) Posted by Katy on 01/22/06 at 06:48 PM Katy, I have to admit I have always loved my name! I wouldn't want to have any other...I mean, how Irish can you get with Bridget Colleen McKenna?! Thanks for the vote, and for being a great sister! :) Posted by Bridget on 01/26/06 at 05:57 PM Bridgie--Your name is perfect for the bonny Irish lass you are! Happy Birthday, baby girl. 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What’s In A Name?

Personal blog of christian
writer & fallible mom
Katy McKenna Raymond
in Kansas City, Missouri