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

Shakespeare got it wrong! Names are important. I won't use nail polish unless I like the name and it goes "with me" at the given time... I did not pick certain colors of paint for our new house, because I did not like the name... I won't order a sandwich in a deli if it has a name I don't like... I am just a little bit wacky or maybe "superstitious" like that. I just got my toes done at the salon here at The Luxor hotel (remember I am in Vegas, and yes I am blogging...) and I had to get a color I like with a name that meant something... I chose OPI "Dusk in Cairo" - we are staying at the Luxor...

Again I digress.

Last Sunday we had Vera's naming. I wrote up a "handout" on her names - English and Hebrew. This is what I wrote.

* * *

Vera Paulina

uyap drw

(Pronounced: Vered Fay-eh)

Born

March 30, 2011

Chicago, Illinois

Naming Ceremony

April 29, 2012

Washington, D.C.

Vera has many names and each is symbolic and important to us. Below is a short description of her names and the people after whom she is named.

Auntie Vera

Jocelyn’s Auntie Vera was a wonderful woman. She wouldn’t sit down until you allowed her to help you. Always doing little crafts or making things for Jocelyn and others, she was a true “mensch” in every sense of the word – A Good Person. Jocelyn has loving and found memories of her Auntie Vera. Vera will always know that her namesake, Auntie Vera, made people smile, took care of those around her, and made the world just a little bit better because she was in it. We hope that Vera will grow and embody these same qualities of being thoughtful and caring, as well as having a heart overflowing with goodness.

Grandma Pauline

Heather’s paternal grandmother, Pauline, was a special person. She raised two children by herself at a time when that was almost unheard of. She worked her whole life and then when she was able to retire, she adventured all over the world by herself. Heather’s favorite memories of her grandmother include receiving wonderful postcards with fantastic photos on them from exotic places (at least to a young child – like Mardi Gras in New Orleans!) She always brought Heather back dolls or other magical trinkets. Today, Heather is sure her that her thirst for traveling adventures began when she was a little girl and grandma Pauline filled her head with interesting pictures of the world. We hope that Vera will have this same adventurous spirit combined with Pauline’s strong will and courage. Vera will have Paulina as her middle English name (from Pauline) as well as Pauline’s Hebrew name as her second Hebrew name.

Bubbe Rose

Heather & Jocelyn’s sister-in-law, Stacey, had a Bubbe, and her name was Rose. Although, Heather & Jocelyn met Bubbe Rose later in life, they loved her just the same. Vera’s Hebrew name is Vered. Vered means Rose in Hebrew. Bubbe Rose was an amazing woman. She was a true pioneer, had an independent spirit and a heart full of love. Whether it was being a women in the American armed forces during WWII stationed in French Polynesia or being married to the love of her life for almost her entire adult life, Bubbe Rose did it all with style. We hope that Vera will carry Bubbe Rose’s independent and loving spirit in her heart. As an added bonus, Vera will share being named after Bubbe Rose with her wonderful cousin, Rayna, who also holds this honor.

Vera’s full Hebrew name is

Vered Fayeh

VERED: Her first name means Rose. That’s the easy one!

FAYEH: The second name has many meanings, spellings, pronunciations, connotations, and derivations. We have chosen “Fay-eh” which can mean fairy.

We’d like to think that Vera’s Hebrew name conjures up a magical garden in which the wise and empathetic “fairy of the roses” lives. In this garden, things grow, know, flourish, learn, live and become as wonderful as they can be. The Rose Fairy tends to the garden and nurtures it: protecting, cultivating and adorning it. This is Vera’s garden – a magical place for her to become the amazing woman she was meant to be. We can only imagine (and hope) that Auntie Vera, Grandma Pauline and Bubbe Rose will forever visit this garden and leave our Vera special notes of gardening advice on how to navigate her life, which we know will be filled with inclement weather, mysterious weeds, as well as unexpected, but glorious buds and newly discovered flowers.

We hope that today’s ceremony and party honors this image and spirit.

Most importantly, we are grateful that you were here to celebrate with us. Thank you for helping us to celebrate Vera’s first year, her first garden party, and the giving of her name. This past year has been a wonderful yet difficult year for our family. It is only because of all of you, our family and friends, that our family is able to rejoice and be happy today with all of you.

Thank you!

Keep growing and sowing the seeds of love, health and happiness!

To Life!

L’Chaim!

All our love,

Heather, Jocelyn, Jonah & Vera

April 29, 2012

Washington, D.C

Vera's Female Roles Models from Yesterday!