Hodge Podge

Okay, I've finally entered the world of blogging. I have been inspired by my good buddy and favorite blogger, Mike Kjergaard and his Soren's Blog. I've been dragging my feet, but today is the day. I thought I'd begin with a post in honor of my Aunt Janet Hodge who recently died. Here last name is my middle name: HODGE. Imagine having the middle name Hodge. As a child I was traumatized whenever the question of middle names came up. It would go something like this... My middle name is Steve... or John... or Greg... and then... My middle name is Hodge. HODGE?! Yes Hodge. Hodge like hodge podge? Like hodgey sheik? Yeah, Hodge. I used to hide behind the letter "h" and let people try to guess it. They would come with Harold, Herman, Harvey, Haywood, etc. (btw, are there any good "H" names?) No one would ever get Hodge, so that became my way of escaping the humiliation. Well, now I like Hodge. I even sign my name with "H" right there in the middle where it belongs. Why the change? My Mom (maiden name: Hodge) had all sisters and one brother. The brother, Rufus (imagine that: Rufus Hodge!) had all daughters. Hence all of the females married and acquired new last names. Janet remained single. She was the last Hodge in my lineage. My Dad forseeing this scenaio insisted I be named David Hodge Willis. Otherwise, I would have been William David Willis. Not bad, but I like mine better. Unfortunately, I didn't pass it on to my children... I just couldn't do it. So that's it - I'm the last of my line of Hodges. That's my Hodge Podge and my first blog.