An Explanation of Saige’s Middle Name – I Cried Writing This

WHEN I POSTED ABOUT SAIGE’S BIRTH, the question I got the most was, “what’s her middle name?” I could have just answered right then, one quick reply and everyone would say, “ahh cool” or “what?” or “that’s weird” and we’d be done with it.

But it’s a little bit deeper than that for me. I don’t want people to think it’s just a name, because it’s not. Not to me and certainly not to Ashley.

Let’s start with a story, shall we? See the guy in the photo below?

That’s my Grandpa Jim. And yes, if you must know, that’s Mini Mo and our old German Shepherd Bear.

This is the only photo I have of my Grandpa.

He was a funny guy with a big white beard. I secretly always thought he was Santa.  He’d visit for the weekend, camp out on our couch and never leave. He had an awesome gut laugh and he’d always bring us presents. I used to think he was weird for eating raw potatoes – including the skins. There were stray kittens at his house every time we’d go over and on Saturdays him, my dad and my dad’s brother would go hiking in the mountains. They even took me with them one time.

Here’s where we get into some family stuff that I hope Grandma doesn’t mind me writing about. My Grandma and Jim married, had my Dad, and then eventually went their own ways. My Grandma remarried a guy who adopted my dad as his own, and that’s where my last name originates. My dad didn’t meet his biological father until I was two.

I was twelve when he died.

He had a stomach aneurysm.

He knew he was sick.

He came by the house to talk to my Dad, who was napping on the couch. I was the one who opened the door and told him Dad was sleeping. I offered to wake him but he smiled and said, “oh that’s alright, I’ll just talk to him later.” He was holding a hand over his stomach. As I shut the door I saw him lean in for a hug, but the door was mostly closed so I pushed it the rest of the way.

I heard it click into place and thought, “I can always hug him later.”

There never was a ‘later’.

I was the last person to see him in my family.

I was the one who had to answer the phone and wake up my Dad to tell him something was wrong with Grandpa the day he passed away.

Poor Kevin innocently asked me what my biggest regret was over dinner one night. I broke down in tears and said, “that I didn’t hug my Grandpa.” People, hug the people you love. Every time.

As for Saige’s middle name?

It was my Grandpa’s last name.

Kimber.