what's in a name?

In Will's case, a lot. William Kevin Moynihan is named after my grandfather and father, respectively. Both men have had such hugely important and positive roles in my life that it's nearly impossible to put into words or properly acknowledge. So, I named my son after them.

William Bernard Condon, my paternal grandfather, "Grampa," was born in 1917 and came of age on the north side of Chicago during the height of the Great Depression. My grandmother, Virginia Moore, who apparently had quite a few suitors, fell for my grandfather the moment she met him at a local dance. Grampa worked in the advertising world and rose quickly through the ranks (I imagine Mad Men's Don Draper, except moral, and faithful, and maybe a little less drunk). As a result of his job, he had to move his family of six back and forth from Chicago to New York regularly. After having Jim and Maureen, my grandmother gave birth to twin boys, Keith and Kevin, in 1953. And, as fate would have it, Kevin would become my dad. Here's a photo of my dad, my uncle Keith, and Grampa in the yard of one of their homes in Connecticut, sometime in the late fifties:



My grandfather was one of those unspeakably kind people you never, ever forget. I can still hear his laugh when I look at this picture:



I won't go on and on about my dad because he'd probably ask me to shut up, but I will say he's pretty special. He's worked hard and has earned each of his many successes over the years. He's a lot smarter than he gives himself credit for. Three little girls never loved their dad more than we loved ours.



No little boy ever loved his grandpa more either.



And so, Will has some big shoes to fill. And some amazing examples to follow. During those inevitable times in his life when the answers aren't clear and the path is muddy, I hope he can remember the men he is named for and draw strength from their integrity and kindness.

William Kevin Moynihan. As my dad likes to say, "Now that's a solid name."

I couldn't agree more.