"Have you ever thought about how your personality would be different if you had a different name? Does Bond . . James Bond ever feel so much stress that he just wants to go back to bed? If that was your name would you suddenly feel bolder? More daring?
"Or maybe you are having a little trouble threading a needle and you were suddenly called Harry Potter would it make a difference?
"Or is Shakespeare correct?
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other word would smell as sweet.
"Would you still want to crawl into bed if you were Bond . . . James Bond?"
Today, two of my granddaughters were here. Kate--age four, and Ruby--age two. I was talking to my daughter-in-law about Kate's name. I told her it was a good strong name. Not wimpy, like Lynne. I told her that I wondered if I had a different name, a stronger name if I would be stronger.
We talked about Katherine Hepburn, who was called Kate by her friends and was such a strong willed person. Then I told her my favorite Katherine Hepburn movie is BRINGING UP BABY. Katherine Hepburn actually pulled a leopard around by a rope around its neck in that movie and I remember reading that the leopard wasn't a trained leopard--or maybe there were two leopards and the one she was jerking around was the one that wasn't trained--in fact it was darn cantankerous--and how she said later that she could have been killed but she just pulled it around, like she had good sense.
She was a strong woman, that Kate and our Kate is strong too.
Ruby, is an individual, just like her name. She didn't like me for the first year of her life. It didn't matter what I did. I could have stood on my head with candy bars for ears and she wouldn't have been impressed. She adored Phil--still does. She is past the hating stage and past the tolerating stage with me now and likes me but not like she likes Phil. I probably will never be able to charm her like he does. Maybe if I changed my name to Shaharazade. Or
No, maybe not. That would be infringing. I can't find a name I couldn't live without. Once I called myself Lyndy-Lou Dorthea Mae and there were a couple of other names tacked on but time has befuddled my memory.
I gave my girls perfect names. Hillary means happy and she is, in every way, and brings happiness to everyone she knows. Elizabeth means gift from God and she is, even though it might be a few years before she realizes it.
So, I should give myself a new name. Perhaps Gabrielle, which means strong woman of God--I like that, in fact it's my goal, to be a strong woman of God. You could call me Gabby for short, which means something altogether different and fits me often, like the other night when I had A Vacant Mind and said I had nothing to say and then proceeded to say nothing for a good long time.
So Gabrielle it is. Gabby, for short.
4 comments:
I think my favourite Kate Hepburn movie is The African Queen. The strength of the character shines through (even though she is a bit of an Imperialist). And Kate as an actress and person must have been very strong to get through the filming.
I love the name Gabrielle, but would not care to have it shortened to Gabby. Such contrast. I worked with a girl a long time ago whose name was Gabrielle, pronounced Gabriella, who was beautiful and she floated when she walked. I'm sure she was an angel. You are an angel, too, Lynne. So Gabrielle you are. but you'll never hear me calling you "Gabby".
beautiful names and so nicely told. :) Val
I found you via Lisa's blog. I have been reading for a few days now, and you crack me up. I appreciate how you take every day joys (and tragedies) and turn them into something fun to read.
Traci
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