“…No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.
Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary….”
While I usually have the pleasure of celebrating births on this blog, today I feel compelled to commemorate the death of Steve Jobs. For years, he’s been someone that although I rarely thought of, he’s had an impact on my day to day existence.
Steve Jobs changed the way we relate to one another. In addition to his inspiring words and influence on creativity in the modern age, no one has had as much of an impact on employment numbers than Mr. Jobs. He he helped to catapult internet commerce, altered the way we share information, and created an ever increasingly level playing field for the modern entrepreneur. He created a company whose profits exceed those of the U.S. government. If anyone exemplifies what it means to possess an aptronym: a name that is suited to its bearer, it’s Steve Jobs.
Hope Solo, the female U.S. soccer goalie, on whom our hopes are pinned as she goes it alone to keep the ball out of the net, wears and aptronym. It’s as if it were destined from birth that she would have this job.
Another athlete, Usain Bolt, is the fastest runner in the world. He bolts like no one’s business. During the 2008 Olympics, I couldn’t help but wonder whether Garret Weber-Gale was blessed with webbed feet.
Madonna has always credited her name in part to contributing to her destiny. Hers would be an example of the ironic aptronym.
Tanya Banks is a financial analyst. There’s a dermatologist in Memphis called Dr. Whitehead, a urologist in Austin who goes by Dr. Dick Chopp. Sometimes I wish I was making this stuff up.
In many cases, the name comes after the occupation. Families Miller, Baker, and Hunter, likely have ancestors who were just that. When we choose a name for a child, we think about what they one day might become and try to choose accordingly. The musical Overstreet family chose well for son Chord, a singer on Glee. Does a name help to shape one’s destiny?
What difference will the passing of Steve Jobs have on employment numbers at Apple Computer? Had Steve Jobs been Steve Jenkins, would there have been an Apple at all? Likely it would never have made a difference to his drive and passion, but it’s interesting to ponder.
Do you have anyone in your life who has lived up to their name?
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
I know a woman called Yvette who is a vet! And a family with the surname Breeding who a lot of kids, haha. A family called Bakes whose father makes his living building mudbrick ovens. When I was on exchange in a school in Paris 3 years ago the man in charge of school attendance was called Monsieur Tardy, which I thought was quite funny. I also know a girl whose surname is Brownless and every part of her is brown: hair, tan skin, eyes… so that’s kind of funny. Ok I’m done!
RIP Steve Jobs
Beautiful post, Elisabeth. I’ve been so saddened by this, but what a magnificent example of a life well-lived, in spite of it’s short duration. He most assuredly lived up to his name. His influences are large in our household, as well, as much in terms of inspiration as product usage! What a beautiful speech you quoted.
My father was also a Steve; he lived up to it, too (in my eyes, if not the entire world’s)
I had a student once named Joia, for the word ‘Joy’, and she really lived up to it. I still remember the first time I called it out in roll call and looked up to see a beautiful, beaming face ready to explain her name, quite happily and proudly. I always wondered if the name played a part in demeanor and attitude–perhaps in her having to explain it, people’s reactions to it, and of course, being raised in a family that likely celebrated Joy and expressed it a lot. I thought of her in naming my own children, actually, hoping that the name gifts we gave to them might influence the experiences they have in their lives and the gifts they give back to the world.
I remember having a good laugh when my brother-in-law visited Dr. Stopp for his vasectomy!
I knew a girl named Sunny who was named perfectly! She was the type of person people just wanted to be around, and she always had a smile and a kind word for everyone!
In grad school, a well-known undergrad poet on campus was named Sonnet. I also went to high school with a kid named Nic Stoner, and well, you can guess the rest.
Senator Weiner
Weiner! How could I forget? Man, he’ll never live that down.
And actually, Steve Jobs was adopted, so he was brought into the name. Which I think is even more beautiful somehow – as if just the right family found just the right boy, and vice versa.
love this.
A Dr. Mohler performed my wisdom teeth surgery.
Lovely post. My high school chemistry teacher was Mr. Formulak. He was kind of hilarious in a grumpy old man way. He liked to call the boys ‘blockheads’ if they got an answer wrong.
Oh one of my favourite subjects!
I saw a Mr Bacon in the paper – a disgruntled meat worker.
I once had a doctor called Doctor Heale.
On TV, I saw a fruit picker whose name was Peach.
Once we called an electrician in to fix our oven – his name was Steve Light. (stove light)
And don’t you think your own surname is rather apt for a baby name blogger, Elisabeth? Hmmm?
There’s a dentist in San Francisco, Dr. Les Plack.
I remember an aquarium manager named Lee Eels. Tee hee.
Hockey player with the last name Blood
Champion surfer Layne Beachley has a pretty apt name as well.
I’ve been to see Dr. Gooddoc
Just saw this post! I actually have a dear friend named Alfred who is a lawyer and the go-to person amongst family and friends for sage advice and a listening ear. It’s not overtly obvious, but Alfred does mean “wise counselor” so it’s quite fitting