You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are grey
You never know dear, how much I love you,
Please don’t take my sunshine away

This morning I started thinking seriously about changing my name. The name Sunshine was what immediately came to mind. I first thought it might be my last name, as in Alys Sunshine, but that did not resonate with me. Then I thought it would be a good first name. Sunshine Culhane. Now there’s a good name. Lots of alliteration there.

It would not be that big a cognitive leap for me because Pete calls me Sunshine quite often, and uses it as a term of endearment. He calls me Alys when he is calling something to my attention or is annoyed with me. So Sunshine, it’ll work.

I like the name because I like and cherish light. What was that saying? A day without orange juice is like a day without sunshine. I’d change that to a day without sunshine is like a day without orange juice.

Pete and I used to drink orange juice every morning but gave it up, I think because we realized that it is very high sugar. We also might have been thinking that this was why my teeth were going bad. We have not given up sunshine – we have southern exposure and every morning watch the sunrise. The light continues to shine on our place because we have southern exposure. Sometimes, the sun will be shining here and it will be foggy down in town. I then think oh, those who live here must think that the sun isn’t shining today.

I would also like to think of myself as a light worker, which is someone who brightening the days of those I meet in passing. This isn’t the way it is, but with a name like Sunshine, is something that I might strive for.

Sunshine was also a form of LSD. In its day, it brightened the days of many. Nothing wrong with that.

I think that name changes are something every human being should consider every five years. We’d all go into the name change office and register our old name or a new name. This office would have several large books on hand, and they would have suggested names and their meanings in them. There would also be books on hand in which patrons might enter new names.

The room where this exchange takes place would be bright and airy and have large healthy plants in it. Classical music would be playing. There would be a table with nice china and coffee and tea. Counselors would be on hand to talk with people about their supposed choices.

There would be no charge for the name change, in fact, those who do elect to have name changes would be given a check for $100.00, which they could donate to the name change foundation.

The process of coming up with a name might take several visits to Name Change Central. No problem, it would feel like a place where time stops. People would feel quite good about going in with one identity and out with another.

This is one of the best ideas I’ve had in a long time. I don’t even have to give it more thought. When the time comes, I’ll be the first customer at Name Change Central.

Next: 41. 2/10/19: What’s In a Name? A Conversation with the Horses