Into the Fire

I know what you’re thinking. Well, no, I don’t. But my guess is some of you think I’m a closet women’s libber because I hyphenate my last name. Maybe you assume because I do that I’m making a statement about my independence, my feminist views about marriage and taking a man’s last name thereby eliminating my own, and/or I’m asserting it’s cooler, more sophisticated, and an attention-getter to do so. If any of you have thought one or all of those things—as if you’ve given it a single thought—you would be wrong.

There’s a simple reason I hyphenate my last name. Very possibly it will seem silly, odd, or ridiculous to some of you, but it won’t be the first nor the last time I’ve seemed that way to people—even to my loved ones and closest friends!

Number one, I’m one of those people who has always loved her name. None of you will remember a French actress by the name of Nicole Ray. Who knows if that was her real name? I’ve never seen her, but her name caught my Mom’s fancy, and thus I became Nicole. No wonder I love drama. There are many girls named Nicole nowadays, but back then no one could even pronounce my name. Teachers made a mockery of it, but I always loved that it was different. My middle name is my Mom’s first name: Colleen. She was a lovely woman, and her name seemed to mesh perfectly between the first and last. And my last name spoke of the Italian immigrant heritage of my father’s parents who had passed away before I was born.

My Mom and Dad had my brother and me. My brother had two daughters. No sons to carry on the Petrino name. Bobby Petrino, new head coach of the Atlanta Falcons (professional football team for you non-sports’ fans), is a cousin I’ve never met. But in my immediate family, the name “Petrino” is a done deal. My Dad passed away in March of 2006, and I kept his name in my last name with my husband’s permission when we married almost 29 years ago as a tribute to Dad because he was a super guy, a wonderful father, a gifted businessman, and a lover of people. I wanted to do my part to preserve his name.

So that’s the reason I hyphenated my last name. To give honor where honor was due. To acknowledge a heritage for which I’m grateful. When I was a young girl and then a young woman, when someone would say to me, “Oh, you’re Joe Petrino’s daughter”, it gave me great pleasure. I was proud to be his daughter. Still am.

Proverbs 22:1 “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver and gold.”

Father, thank you for my name and my heritage, my wonderful parents. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of being born in America. Thank you for giving me incalculable blessings. You, the Author of Life, ordained these days that I have with those I love so deeply. How can I ever express my gratitude? I love you always, in the Name of your Son Jesus Christ, Amen.