Grandsons Grant and Mitchell have been surrounded by our “A” family for their whole life. Their surname (“H”) inherited from their Dad John has been their identification since birth. John had almost no remaining relatives and since his “passing”, contact with any of his family has been non-existant.
The constant in their life is that Grasshopper No.2 has always kept the “A” moniker. For professional reasons especially, it has kept things simple.
Grant and Mitchell are surrounded by our side of the family and interestingly, my cousin Rick “A” lives in Madison and is “in and out” of their lives. Holiday clambakes are usually at our house surrounded by “A’s”.
Last week, Grant and Mitchell chose (really their choice endorsed by Grasshopper No.2) to change their last name to “A”. It takes newspaper notification, appearance before a judge, and official change of birth records. The whole process is rather perfunctory. The real change is that it creates a sense of belonging and being part of a larger network of family.
Now I have to get used to “Mitchel ‘A’ scores another touchdown” or “Grant ‘A’ stuffs another basketball shot back into a shooters face”. Maybe I’ll witness “introducing the new President and Vice President of the U.S., Grant and Mitchell “A”. You may all get an invitation to the White House.
So congratulations to two special guys in Madison who got re-vitalized with our family name. It is a change of “heart”.
Love,
Chas