end of Apex

There’s a passage on page 170 that I really like, makes me think. “Of course it began at birth-by giving their children names, parents did their offspring the favor of teaching them how to lie with their very first breath. Because what we go by is rarely what makes us go.” I loooove that last line, somewhat Dr. Seuss-ish, but I still love it. In this passage he’s talking about how amazing it would be if we all went by our true names instead of what others call us. If instead of a name tag having Jane, it said EMPTY. He’s talking about how much honesty that would bring to the world. To me, a name is just a name. I’m not my name. My name does not define me. But I guess since he’s in the naming business, he has to put lots of thought into this. I think if we all went by what truly defines us, it would be much too depressing. Plus what defines me fluctates and is dependent on lots of things and not just one. I’m not just one thing, and if you can be defined by one adjective, what does that say about you, and how boring!

I don’t think parents are teaching their children how to lie by naming them. I do wish that there was a way to know a baby’s personality before naming them though. What if you name your daughter Mary, but when she grows up she’s more of  a Chloe? Personally I have several issues with my name. First off, I was born in April, so I grew up with-and stilllllll get the occassional birthday/name joke. Then there’s the spelling change, which always trips people up, or causes mis-pronunciations. Then there’s my middle name-Sundae. As if my first name wasn’t bad enough, my mom made me a dessert. I probably could have dealt with one or the other, but both combined…. ugh. Now I like my name, I think it’s fun, but when I was younger I hated my name. I even changed it to Lisa for a few months when I was like 4.

Anyway, focus… what we go by is rarely what makes us go. I love this. I don’t know how to unpack it though. Is he saying we’re not our names? Aprille Sundae does not drive me. I’m not controlled by my name.

~ by aprillesundae on November 28, 2007.