Heritage Thoughts
We decided not to name my son after me; it was a personal decision, obviously. Ian could have been Roger Andrew Hart III, but I'm not a big fan of my own name (I love Andrew, hate Roger, although it is fairly rare). I came up with Ian (although it was a 100% mutual decision), and I decided not to go with my own name (that was my prerogative, according to Hil).
Obviously, by choosing not to continue the tradition with my first born son, the option is kind of removed for any potentially subsequent children. It would be kind of stupid, if you think about it.
Here's the realization I came to last night, however:
It's much deeper than that.
I was obviously named for my father. His middle name, Andrew, was in deference to HIS father, Andrew Hart, who was born Andrija Parnickzy. HIS father's name (my great-grandfather, in case you've lost track), was also Andrija Parnickzy. Thus, the "Andrew" in my name - what I was called exclusively for the first half of my life to date - is, at a minimum, a four generation tradition among males in my family.
It's a stunning realization to know that, despite being "only" a junior, my name has a much stronger and longer tradition than that, and to know that I ended it.
Makes me want to have another son now so I can at least have another Andrew. :D
-Roger
Obviously, by choosing not to continue the tradition with my first born son, the option is kind of removed for any potentially subsequent children. It would be kind of stupid, if you think about it.
Here's the realization I came to last night, however:
It's much deeper than that.
I was obviously named for my father. His middle name, Andrew, was in deference to HIS father, Andrew Hart, who was born Andrija Parnickzy. HIS father's name (my great-grandfather, in case you've lost track), was also Andrija Parnickzy. Thus, the "Andrew" in my name - what I was called exclusively for the first half of my life to date - is, at a minimum, a four generation tradition among males in my family.
It's a stunning realization to know that, despite being "only" a junior, my name has a much stronger and longer tradition than that, and to know that I ended it.
Makes me want to have another son now so I can at least have another Andrew. :D
-Roger