My Aunt Sue was a great friend to me. She passed away recently but she is/was my dad’s sister and for a few years when I was in my mid-20’s we lived near each other in Kentucky. To say that I enjoyed that time of my life would be an understatement. I loved it.
My Aunt Sue had an affinity for renaming things and people. She started with herself and by the time I was old enough to know her her name was no longer legally Sue. Over the course of time that we lived near each other, she renamed many people in my life. And it was always the new name that she gave everyone that was the only name we used for that person going forward. Looking back on it, it’s interesting to note that all of the men in my life were renamed. And interestingly, they were all given girls’ names.
Paul became Pauline
Dennis became Denise
Dave became Daisy Mae
Another Dennis became another Denise
Ron became…well…I can’t remember…but it was something…
To this day, whenever I think back on this time in my life I am just as likely to call the men in my life at that time by their female name as their male name. It was that ingrained in my psyche.
Interestingly, one of Rye’s favorite songs is Johnny Cash’s song “A Boy Named Sue”. He never knew my Aunt well. Or even much at all.
It’s just one of those things.
