"Mommy.. why how come I don't have a regular name?" My response was a normal one for these days, "huh?" combined with a blank stare. Jack's going through a phase of asking questions that I just don't always have the answer to. In fact, they're often questions I can't even parse in order to make up a reasonable answer. He's gotten used to this and quickly clarifies when I give him the quizzical look of a parent who is completely stumped. "My name. It's not like Will or Matt. It's a name like some people have for a last name like Smith." Ahhhhhh, now I understand the question! But how the hell do I answer this one? It's a good question! And it's a tough question! And wait until he figures out that he has three last names - we didn't even have the good sense to give him a diminutive middle name. So. "Well, buddy, Mommy and Daddy really liked the name Jackson, so we gave you that name. Some people may have that as a last name, but you have it as a first name. But we call you Jack, and Jack is a regular first name, right?"
When naming Jack, we employed one of my favorite naming schemes - three surnames as a full name. I find that those I've come across in life with three surnames and no obvious first name kind of rock. Note: I don't live in the south where this is more common, so please realize I've probably avoided a good deal of riffraff carrying three surnames). Anyway, it's a lot to live up to, but it just works. Jackson Kezar Smith. We considered just naming him Jack Smith, but let's be honest, when checking into a hotel for an illicit tryst with a trollop, how many men use the name Jack Smith... am I right? So yes, Jackson won. We figured he could use it or he could use Jack, his choice. Kezar. Now, Kezar was a little tricky. Jack's Dad's family has a cabin lean-to in the woods on an amazing plot of land directly on Lake Kezar in Maine. It's where he proposed, it's where we brought many friends and shared many special times, it seemed a fitting tribute. It also gave him a great rockstar name, Jackson Kezar (drop the Smith, let's be honest... it's a little "blah"). But Jackson Kezar. I can totally see him taking the stage, just him and his guitar, his hair messy, an extra stool next to him to hold his whiskey. On the rocks. I'm a mom and hope that the ice waters it down a bit as it melts.
But until he does any of this, to me, he's Jackson. And yes, it's the last name to some, but it's the only name that matters to me.
But until he does any of this, to me, he's Jackson. And yes, it's the last name to some, but it's the only name that matters to me.
