Names

My brother, Bob, is getting married soon sometime in May. I am excited that finally one of my three older brothers is getting married, especially all three of them are so old, around their thirties. Our family is expanding. I will soon have Pilipino relatives.

Bob. Thao. Those are his two names he goes by, but mostly by Bob, which in the past the marker of his personality throughout high school. Bob. His friends gave him that name. Thao. His parents gave him that name. He goes by Bob more though. When I was a kid, I reconstructed his name, something, I still do with a lot of other people's name up until today. From Bob to Bobolo. I think I got that name from another word, discombobulate which means "to upset or frustrate" characterizing my relations with him growing up. I remember one time at my dad's shop, I threw a stapler at him. It was easy to upset me because I had a short temper then. I still do sometimes.

Son. Ever since I was little, I wanted an American name since it was essentially thee center target for mockery or ridicule. Very recently, I've come to love my name more. Maybe, the meaning behind it: mountain or just its conciseness that helps people remember me. This is coming from a person who is horrible with names. The common case would be people remember me, but I cannot remember them.

Names helps us navigate our way through people. Bob and his Bob-like attitude. Son and his Son-like attitude. Whatever that means, attached adjectives and attributes to names come natural to how people are identified and perceived. When Bob and his new wife, Maria, come down to naming a child, she or he will take on a name and that will be her or his marker for life. The more I write my name down. Son. The more I know I exist. I find it interesting my brother was able to change his marker along with countless people. I don't think I will ever change my marker since it's the only thing that was first given to me other than my life.