the worst name he could think of

he already knows about this family

Part of the pleasure of visiting family, if you can wade through the rage and resentment that tends to ensue, are the stories you hear (to be fair, there hasn’t been much rage or resentment, but there’s still a week left – it’s not too late).

Recent stories (I live a long way away; there are some tellings of events that don’t make the intercontinental journey) and older stories. Accounts that I’ve heard many times, and then some that’re completely new to me.

Although it’s my maternal grandmother who recently died, it was my mother’s father’s family that we talked about a lot. The stories are plentiful. I figured I could blog about something important going on in the world, or I could tell you a funny family story. I’ve chosen to go with the latter.

I’ll just let my mother tell the story. In her words and all that.

‘Aunt Helen (my grandfather’s oldest sister) married Roger (name redacted). He would later go into the navy, but at that time he had no job.

As a result, the newlyweds lived with her parents, who still had four younger sons living at home. 

So here was the deal: Grandpa loathed Roger (name redacted) so much (thought he was no good) that he called him ‘Cedric‘.

Why ‘Cedric‘?

Because it was the worst name he could think of.’

Apologies to anyone called Cedric.

17 comments

      1. Hee! No, I make up false answers to those, so nobody can Google their way into my account with my mom’s maiden name or my father’s middle name, or some such.

    1. I should blog about curious, antiquated names. English ones. American ones. But most enjoyable are the German names. A blogpost on this topic can almost write itself.

  1. Don’t know any Cedrics or Cecils for that matter. But like Barbara said, despite differences families often share similar traits. When you mentioned, the new stories that come out, and the “accounts that you’ve heard many times” I had to smile. When I”m with my parents I hear a ton of those old stories. As much as I think “Yeees, I do actually know this off by heart now” – it’s still kind of nice. Because these insider stories are part of what weaves us together as a family.
    Enjoy the rest of your stay!

    1. Thanks Jackie. Yes, the similarities of one family to another are pronounced. There’s a great quote about families on the subject, but I can’t remember it.

  2. I’m glad you get family stories. (And that, by extension, WE get family stories.)

    I get some on one side of the family. The other side doesn’t talk much about the people who’ve passed. It’s a whole secretive thing. I always ask, and get these strange looks for asking. It’s worrisome.

    I’m a direct descendant of a Cecil. My mom’s side of the family has some interesting names. No Cedrics, though.

    I hope there’s no rage or resentment in the upcoming week. None at all.

    1. We’re eventually going to learn about your dad’s French-Canadian family’s stories.

      We’ll cajole the stories out of him. It’s the most practical use for twitter I’ve found yet.

      1. Wouldn’t he have to be on Twitter – or believe it exists, even – for that to work? I think there’s a flaw in your plan. And it’s not just my dad. No one on that side of the family’s talking. It’s a high-level conspiracy over there.

  3. Love the story! It’s good to document these things – I’ve lost count of the stories forgotten since my parents died. And how I wish I’d made recordings of them. Sadly I have nothing but photos of Mum – no video or audio at all and just one old tape (taken from local radio) of Dad.
    Btw, how is Cedric pronounced in the US? Here in UK the first syllable rhymes with ‘said’ but do you say ‘seed’?

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