And God said, 'Let there be X'. X is the great unknown - from algebra to the X-ray. X is also the chromosome in the human egg cell. The unknown begs to be romanced and ultimately fertilized with another X-chromosome (a girlfriend?) or possibly a Y-chromosome.
The amazing unknown to me is ancestry. I remember doing some research years ago and being shocked to learn that families often named more than one male child the same first name to guarantee that it would survive the tragic inevitability of infant mortality, or death after bachelorhood. Ironically, I also found that I could have easily been given a different first name than the one I have if my great-grandfather had not been a determined German. He stood up to the priest at the baptism who argued that my grandfather's name should be "Clement". Instead, I proudly announce that my first name, like his, is "Clemens", like most people's last name.
Somehow, like those more notably named who trace their ancestry on Who Do You Think You Are?, I sense that I have inherited some of my grosservater's spirit as well as his genes. Could I be a continuation of him for a world that still needs his gumption? Or am I just trying to redeem my personal rebellion, made a bit more public through my blogs?
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A newly-married couple were celebrating their one month anniversary with roast beef. Before putting the roast in the oven, he cut off the ends and threw them in the garbage. She questioned him as to why he'd waste good food. He responded that he'd seen his mother do the same thing. When she made him call his mother, mom admitted that she was following her mother's example. Finally, a call from grandmom solved the mystery - the roasting pan was too small for a roast that would feed her large family.
Now, maybe I can find out why I'm cut off from my great-grandfather's brother's side of the family.
