1. What is your full name? Explain why your parents gave you that name.
I've decided to follow this article and try to do something that resembles my family history. Since, it gives me a whole year to do it, maybe it's feasible. Not too much to absorb at one time - or to write about!
My name at birth was Melinda Kay Erikson. My first name is my grandmother's (on my dad's side) first name. Interestingly enough, while working on genealogy for my family, I've come across the name spelled as Melinda and Malinda. I spell it with the "e", but no one calls me Melinda - I've always gone by Mindi. I feel more like a Mindi. Melinda sounds like someone who would be a real lady, wearing dress slacks and blouses with sweaters every day. That is no not me. I'm a sweat pants, tennis shoes type of girl. It's not that I'm a tomboy or don't like being a woman. I love it, but I love being a comfortable woman even more.
My middle name is Kay. That name was taken from my aunt, my mother's sister, Janet Kay. Janet was born on May 13, and I was born on May 14 - years later. Janet died when she was 2 years old, so I feel honored to share her name. Sadly, neither mom or dad have any other brothers or sisters, so I think that makes my middle name all the more special.
My married name is Kurtz, which I've grown accustomed to, since I've been using it for 29 years. I'm very proud of my Swedish heritage. So much so that I was quite disappointed to take a DNA test, where I found out that I'm more German and Eastern European than Swedish. Hmph. I'll still celebrate the Swedish side more. Even though my husband's name is German, he's actually more Swedish! His mom is 100% Swedish, so we enjoy Swedish smorgasbords at Christmas time and I enjoy learning about that culture. His step-dad (who is more like a dad, really) is 100% Swedish too, so I get a lot more exposure to that part of my heritage anyway. Besides, I don't like German food!
Funny thing though, my first husband, and the father of my son, also has a German last name - Klotz. I always hated that name, though I didn't have it long. It was never my intention for Matt to have that last name either, but you can't always get what you want, and he ended up with it. Now, he's married and has a child, so it would be too much trouble to go back and have him be an Erikson again - although in my heart is always will be. I think it's unusual that I went from being a Klotz to a Kurtz. Didn't have to change one monogrammed item!!! Enough about that.
There's my answer for week 1. Who knows, I may get bored and rip through a couple questions a week - or not. Just just never know what I'm going to do - and half the time, neither do I!
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