52 Questions in 52 Weeks: Week 1 - What's In A Name?

It's time.

Embarrassingly enough, my last post was in October 2012. Don't believe me? It's right below this post, mocking me. 

18 months.

It's been sitting on this page for that long. For some perspective, that's how long my mission was for the LDS church. Which at the time felt like FOREVER (especially when the departing sisters would give their little speeches about how the time has just flown by. I remember thinking,"Oh really? I'm on week 3 of 78! Tell me that's just flying by!")

I've wanted to start our blog up again, but wasn't quite sure what to write about. We've done some pretty cool things, but I was lacking inspiration. Then I came across a blog describing a full year of blogging prompts, which you can find HERE. Genius! No longer can I claim writer's block for my procrastination. So I decided to take on this challenge. Not only do I think it'll be a good exercise for me to get back into the swing of things, but it will help me document my life so far. What could be better than two birds with one stone! So here goes nothing...

Week 1:

1. What is your full name? Why did your parents give you that name?

My name as a little girl was was Ellen Michele Bryan.

 Ellen, for my maternal grandmother's best friend. 

Michele, for my mother's sister who supported her during rough times. 

Bryan, from my father

My name now is Ellen Bryan Abamonte

I'm sure you can guess where the names come from here.

I liked the symmetry of having one name from my mother, one name from my father and one name from my husband.

I'd like to know more about my namesake, Ellen. My knowledge of her is quite fuzzy. One year for Christmas, my grandmother gave me an ornament with a note saying that Ellen was very special to her. It saddens me that I don't remember more than that. I had meant to save the note, but with college, marriage and moving, who knows where it would be, if it even survived. 

I hope that this project will help spur me on to fill these gaps. 

I hope it will inspire me to reach out to family, gathering stories and making memories as I do so.

I hope I can get others to do this with me.

I really am looking forward to this.

*Update* 
So I spoke with my grandmother over Easter weekend, getting a little more info on Ellen. She said that Ellen was a really lovely person, sweet and always smiling. They met in Akron though Ellen's husband, as grandma had given him some assistance in the past by letting him stay at her house when he was a teenager. Grandma and Ellen show that age doesn't always matter with friendship :) Ellen's first child had special needs, and grandma recalled that Ellen was always very patient caring for him.  Unfortunately, Ellen passed away from breast cancer and never got to meet me. Although I wish we could have met, I have really enjoyed getting to know more about my namesake.

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1. What is your full name? Why did your parents give you that name?

My full name is Andre Nicholas Abamonte

I was named after my paternal grandfather, Andre Nicholas Abamonte. He was commonly known as Andy. He was born, lived, and died in New York City. He was born to a working class Italian American Family. 

I never met my grandfather. He died in 1996 and the only memories that I have of him is when he would call on Easter or around Christmas to speak with my father to wish him a happy holiday. 

I have been to St. Raymond's cemetery in Bronx, New York where he is buried and let me tell you, it is a strange thing to see your name exactly, written on a head stone.

My father has a picture of Andy, along with his brother Sonny and Joe DiMaggio (Yes, that Joe who was married to Marilyn Monroe), standing together in the early 80s in Florida. He looks like your typical Italian New Yorker. He looks like a pretty cool cat. I know that he had his flaws and made mistakes in his life, but despite all of that, I am proud to have him as a namesake.