The Name Conversation

Do you ever wonder how much went into your name? Number one, who came up with it? If you have a name like mine, someone else had it first, but who was the first one to have it? Who was the one to make up the name? Perhaps you have a name like . . . Art or Skip; a name that is an actual thing. Who said it's alright to have a name that is an object or action? I wonder if someone has a name that means absolutely nothing. My name came in the form of a suggestion from Lou Huges to my mother. My middle name, Nicole, is the female version of my Dad's best man's name, Nick. My last name . . . . well, who knows. I am one of the many Smiths in America, so it's kind of hard to trace the name back. Actually, I'm not even a Smith; I'm a Perry. My grandfather on my Dad's side, Pa, was born Jullian Ray Perry. His parents got divorced and the man his mother re-married was named Smith, so my Pa took on his last name. I didn't even know until two years or so ago. Weird, uh? I guess it doesn't matter. But I do know one thing - I am it for the Smiths. I am the last in line. The name dies with me. The man my great grandmother married did not have any kids, but adopted my Pa. My Pa had four girls and one boy. My Dad only had two girls, so that's it for the Smiths. Talk about the pressure. However, I am glad I don't live in a time when your name is all you had; what the public knew you by; the standard you were held to. That would be real pressure.

My friend told me about a blog entry she saw once about names and I thought it might be fun. It's a favorite name blog. Now, everyone has their favorite names, perhaps it's your name, perhaps you have names picked out for your future kids or perhaps (and the ones I find most interesting of all) you have found names in books, movies, t.v. shows, authors, actors, singers, anyone of cultural significance or just your friends that you would consider putting on this list we are about to make. (I say we, but pretty much, I can anticipate only my list going up, which is okay.) It's a list of the coolest, most bizarre, odd sounding, pleasant sounding, nostalgic bringing, interesting, cool names. So, I'm going to start my list (I might add to it later) and you can post the same. Also, I would be interested in how your name came about, or what it means, or even a past family history secret will come out! Here we go:

Willy Wonka, Charlie Bucket, Veruca Salt, Augustus Glump (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)
Yo Yo Ma

Argus Filch, Mad Eye Moody, Severus Snape, Darco Malfoy, Petunia Dursley, Sirius Black, Bellatrix Lastrange, Dobby, Xeno Lovegood, Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter)

Kermit (the Frog)

Chuck E. Cheese

Marty McFly (Back to the Future)

Miss Havisham (Great Expectations)

Rizzo (Grease)

Mercutio (Romeo and Juliet)

Merlin
George Bailey (It's a Wonderful Life)

Ebenezer Scrooge (A Christmas Carol)

Forrest Gump

Ma Rainey (Jazz Singer)

Penny Lane

Prince Humperdink

Puck (Midsummer's Night Dream)

Winnie the Pooh (just because someone but "Pooh" in a name)

Debbie Schriener (My Good Friend)

Ethan Hawk
Ringo Starr

Wilma Flintstone

Miss Frizzle (Magic School Bus)

Benjamin Linus, Mr. Echo (LOST)

Topanga Lawrence (Boy Meets World)

Oliver Twist

Mufasa (The Lion King)

Holden Caulfield (Catcher in the Rye)

Noah (The Holy Bible)

Darth Vader (Star Wars)

Optimus Prime (Transformers)

Tweedledum and Tweedledee (Through the Looking Glass)

Lynn Jasperson

Oscar Wilder

Ray Lamontagne

Dolly Parton

Buzz Lightyear (Toy Story)

Dracula

Tennessee Williams

Inspector Gadget
Huckleberry

Where's your list???

The Revive the E-mail to it's Former Glory Conversation

Remember "You've Got Mail?" (Now go back and read that again and, please, do the proper voice in your head.) American On Line. Who uses that anymore? I'm sure someone, but I don't know anybody that signs on to AOL 2.0 on the regular and gets to hear those precious words. I think those words were so special because it was the dawning of the internet for me and several of my friends and we were the target age that ate it up. It was so exciting, in fact, that you felt important to even be getting Forwarded messages because it meant someone knew your personal e-mail address. So universal was the feeling you got when you heard these words that Hollywood, Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks deemed it Romantic Comedy Hit worthy.

I admit, I was late jumping on the internet bandwagon. (I seem to get on bandwagons way too late. I hold out for no reason and then suddenly join up and realize it's not that bad . . . Flip Flops, not that bad.) But there was something about AOL - made you feel important, I'd say elite. Don't even speak to me about "hotmail." And a snailmail account? Don't make me laugh. The dreadful switch to Comcast probably ended a few of my relationships. More affordable internet? Who needs that?

Do you remember the one person who was your e-mail friend? The person you would spend hours and hours writing really, really long e-mails to really late at night? The one who got all your FWD: messages but only if they were funny enough. Or those people on your Buddies list you would IM till 3:00 in the morning? And please, never forget the people you sent those lovable animated e-cards to. Where are those friends? What a pure rush of joy you would feel if they were on-line at the same time. Do you remember the anticipation to see if "they wrote you back?" Remember when "LOL" use to really mean something? What happen? Did we all realize we were being way over passionate about the internet and no one really wanted all those e-mails and e-cards (admit it, you sent one or two) and therefore ended the relationship not only with the person but with the fun-loving internet as well? All the friends I have now, I didn't e-mail once during the dawning age of the internet. Where are you and why did the e-mails stop?

E-mails were so instrumental in expressing yourself then, especially as a new teenager. However, now pretty much all we use it for is business and reminders and to pass along only important information. I think we have all gotten too busy and too "efficient" to even send a personal e-mail. People will always talk about the death of "the letter." "No one writes letters anymore. Letters are more personal than e-mail." Well, e-mails can be pretty personal. Even if it's just a catching up thing or a thinking of you or a good job, e-mails can be "Save in Folder X" worthy.

SO, I challenge you to write an e-mail for the pure heck of it; perhaps to your one long forgotten e-mail buddy. Send an e-card, unearth the forever ago FWD message about "Happy Dysfunctional Day" or that one with the weird looking monkeys and the bananas . . . anybody? See what people do if you just randomly ask how they're doing and give them a brief update (brief, people, brief update.) And always remember to ask them a question about their life too . . . .it's only polite. But seriously, folks, this week I will look into getting back to writing a random, funny, geez it's great to get to tell you about my boring day e-mail. I encourage you to do the same.

Other Nostalgia Inducing Remembrances:
Hearing the door opening effect when your buddies got on-line. Calling your friend to get on-line and chat. High school typing class was only important for you to be more efficient at IM.

ANYBODY GOT MORE?