Thursday, June 26, 2008

What's In A Name

Most of us reading this have had the opportunity to name something; a bike, an animal, a car, a boat, a child, and we know from this experience that it can be a very serious task. This pressure seems to increase depending upon what you are naming. For example, Cochita might be a perfectly fine name for a car, in fact the sillier the better, boats, on the other hand, seem to have more serious names and demand more respectability, maybe it is because they walk on water. Of course the naming of living things creates even greater pressure--when naming a family pet you want something catchy, something everyone likes, something that won't offend the neighbors. My neighbors weren't thinking of my feelings when they named their dog Stacy! Needless to say we spent less and less time together, I wasn't sure if they were talking to me or the dog. It became very confusing. Finally, the naming a child--all the questions and concerns, what does the name mean? how shall we spell it? How can it be twisted into some freakish name by a third grader? This whole naming process can be daunting, until I experienced the naming of my blog and all the pressure that surrounds that. It represents me: my hopes, dreams, beautiful moments, reflections, friends, and family. It is a record and one that I want to keep and share with my loved ones. How do you name that? Well after much deliberation I came up with this title which is from a U2 album and I feel represents all that is important to me. All that you can't leave behind are all the things that you can take with you. The most important things. The thing that we should cherish while here on the earth, but what we can take with us once we leave. Hopefully those things will be family, friends, memories and the truth. I want to share all of these things with you, as I see them.