A rose by any other name would smell as sweet

“What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.”

I love this quotation from William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet.

Shakespeare wanted to let the world know…the names of things do not matter, it only matters who or what they are as a whole.

This brings me to my very own modern day sonnet I have been pondering over:

“What’s in a last name?
Furthermore, what becomes of a maiden name, after a maiden meets her mate?”

I recently had a conversation with my father after a round of golf. We were walking through the pro-shop and he suggested I get a pair of personalized “bag tags” to accompany my new set of clubs. I thought it was an awesome idea and replied…. “Yes Dad that would be great! But I think we should wait until I’m a Barnett, don’t you?” (Apparently that was a left field question for my father.)

“Wait a minute”…He said. “You mean you’re not going to keep Ricci in your name?” I waited about 4 seconds too long before I could respond. “Well….I guess I got my answer” he said.  (He was half joking…and probably half secretly wishing he had a son to carry on the family name.) I further explained that I was genuinely excited to become Mrs. Mary Barnett, but reassured him “Don’t worry Dad; I will always be a Ricci.”

The truth is…. I can’t wait to be a Barnett. Together, Brendan and I get to create our legacy. Barnett is the name I will take from my husband on our wedding day. It is the name my children will have, and their children will have- who then one day will call me “Grandma Barnett” and if I’m really lucky “Great Grandma Barnett.” That is incredibly exciting stuff if you ask me.

A Barnett is who I shall become…but Ricci is what I come from.

My signature might change…but my roots will always remain intact.