I’ve had several titles in my life, but only one name. To my parents, friends, wife, and extended family I have always been Shawn. Even to my students I am typically called by my Christian name, and to be honest I have always liked it that way. No pretense…simple, pure, the same no matter the situation.
Tomorrow, however, I get a new name. Dad. It’s three letters, one syllable, it easily rolls off the tongue, and yet it carries a weight a signification that I have never considered before tonight. I’ve never really thought of myself as a Dad. After all I’m Shawn, or so the people in my life continually remind me.
I know it may sound silly, but in my life the name Dad has only ever belonged to one person. His real name is Michael or Mike, but I never knew him by that name. To me he was always and ever will be Dad. It’s hard to believe that tomorrow there is someone who will look at me the way that I have looked at him.
To be honest I’m not sure I’m ready for such a change, and while I recognize that the name is freely given I hope that I can earn the right to deserve it.
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