When Groucho Marx was asked if Groucho was really his first name he said, “No, I'm breaking it in for a friend.”
We have a new member of our family. Our nephew, Chase, and his wife Kerri welcomed their first child on Monday. Baby Noah Steven Herman arrived in the early afternoon, March 2nd. Mother and child are healthy and happy and there is much joy all around. Congratulations!
Naming a baby is a big deal for sure. Lots of things to consider. There's a Congratulations New Baby card I saw recently that said, “You never realize how many people you don't like until it comes time to name a baby.” That's funny right there.
I've always been fascinated by generational names, how they come and go and come back around again (some). For example, my paternal grandmother's name was Genevieve. It's a cool name and it has definitely shown back up. However, my maternal grandmother's name was Myrtle…I think that one may be done.
A while back I was thinking about the names of the kids I grew up with. There's a good chance that the current list of student names at Nixa middle school here in town wouldn't include one of them.
It caused me to jot down some thoughts.
What Ever Happened to Elmer
Whatever happened to Elmer? Whatever happened to Bill?
Whatever happened to Jim and Randy and Marvin and Clyde and Phil?
And whatever happened to Walter? Whatever happened to Rick?
Whatever happened to Ronnie and Donnie and Steve and Harold and Dick?
And whatever happened to Brad? Whatever happened to Fred?
Whatever happened to Dwight and Glen and Herbert and Leon and Ed?
And whatever happened to Cecil? Whatever happened to Gary?
Whatever happened to Curt and Bert and Harry and Larry and Jerry?
Whatever happened to Carol? Whatever happened to Judy?
Whatever happened to Rita and Rhonda and Jill and Joan and Trudy?
And whatever happened to Doris? Whatever happened to Candy?
Whatever happened to Susan and Marsha and Brenda and Lois and Sandy?
And whatever happened to Patty? Whatever happened to Linda?
Whatever happened to Joyce and Norma and Pam and May and Glenda?
And whatever happened to Connie? Whatever happened to Marlene?
Whatever happened to April and June, Teresa, Phyllis, Christine?
Every generation gets some brand new names
. But time goes by like a bullet train
. Before too long there'll come a day
. When someone will look around and say:
Whatever happened to Declan? Whatever happened to Grayson?
Whatever happened to Colton and Cameron and Logan and Levi and Hayden?
And whatever happened to Jackson? Whatever happened to Brayden?
Whatever happened to Elijah and Dylan and Jacob and Easton and Mason?
And whatever happened to Connor? Whatever happened to Austin?
Whatever happened to Caden and Henry and Liam and Asher and Tristan?
And whatever happened to Hudson? Whatever happened to Waylon?
Whatever happened to Maverick and Cooper and Owen and Ethan and Kaelan?
Whatever happened to Heather? Whatever happened to Mia?
Whatever happened to Taylor and Autumn and Keirsten, Kirstin, Sophia?
And whatever happened to Madison? Whatever happened to Kaylee?
Whatever happened to Ivy and Sadie, Savannah and Bailey and Hailey?
And whatever happened to Olivia? Whatever happened to Daisey?
Whatever happened to Harper, Samantha, Molly, Elaina and Avery?
Whatever happened to Scarlett? Whatever happened to Chloe?
Whatever happened to Emma and Layla, Paisley, Abigail and Zoey?