Grandpa

It's July 1, which means that it's the day for me to think of my Grandpa. It's been 9 years since he died - it struck me today that while on one hand, he never knew most of the person I am today, on the other hand he still knew and appreciated who I was as a person.

This date always seems like a good time for me to look back, and re-evaluate how things are going. What's different this year than last? How have I changed?

Last year at this time I was struggling to fit into an uncomfortable office environment, adjusting to having graduated from college, and trying to figure out a direction for my life.

This year, the office discomfort is gone, I'm pretty passed the graduated life adjustment, but I'm still not sure what I want to do with my life. I guess it's not really that big of a deal, given that most people never quite figure out what they want, but I've still given it some thought.

Today I was thinking a lot about last names, middle names, etc. I know some women take their original surname as a middle name, and that some women get married but just keep their original last name. I'm wondering how much more common that sort of thing will do. It just made me a little sad to think today about my family tree and realize that that the name, or at least the clear paternally based linkages, might become spread even more thin. I'm not sure how I feel about all of that. I know that a name is only a name and doesn't mean a whole lot in terms of preserving someone's memory, but it's going to feel weird to not have at least that link to him if I ever do get married and take the husband's last name.