Features

Renaming

ESCANABA -- Would a rose by any other name smell as sweet? Mr. Shakespeare had that right!

Names are important!

Your parents probably pondered for days to pick out the perfect name for you when you were on your way.

We memorized the names of the fifty states and their capitals when we were young. From kindergarten through high school, we learn to name the colors, the shapes, the countries of the world, the planets and maybe even the names of the elements on the periodic table.

Names are important. Just look at the number of names listed in your Facebook or Snap Chat accounts.

In fact, having a "good name" or a "good reputation" is more important than all the money in the world.

My second-grade teacher taught me how to write my name in cursive. She instilled in us to always sign our names with neatness and pride.

Names are important, but now renaming things seems to be the trend. Old folks like me are easily confused.

Sports teams and sports stadiums change names to be politically correct. It's a guy thing.

There have been a lot of household name changes too. Dinner, the noon meal, is now called lunch. The living room has become the family room. Air conditioning has been shortened to AC, but central air is what most folks have now. Toilet paper is referred to as toilet tissue. And my family doctor is now called my PCP (primary care provider).

Locally there've been name changes that I must stop and think about too. Water Plant Road is now Beaumier Way. That is where the Delta County Historical Museum and Archives are located. (a wonderful place to visit)

The junior high school with its beautiful William Oliver auditorium is now called the U. or the middle school.

The intersection of Sheridan Road, Stephenson Avenue, and Washington Avenue in north Escanaba has been called the Y and now it's called the roundabout, but I will forever call it the "three meets".

The nice little park behind KFC is called the I. Stephenson Park with its tennis courts and basketball hoops. But this old north towner will always think of it as Dock Diamond with the approach of the big wooden ore docks jutting out behind it.

Old folks like me are set in our ways.

Years ago, my mom had names for her favorite kitchen kettles. There was the potato kettle, the soup kettle and "Johnny Jump Up" kettle with the little steam valve. Those kettles are still called by those names today.

Dad named trails in the woods near camp. The leaning cedar trail, the north loop and" gondola land trail" my family still hikes these paths.

When I was in grade school a good teacher taught me how to memorize and name the Great Lakes from west to the east". She made Henry eat onions, helped me learn She=Superior, Made=Michigan, Henry=Huron, eat=Erie, onions=Ontario.

This old dog just can't change it to "She made Henry eat apples?" It will always be Ontario for me!