A modern woman

Back in the days of the Indians ("Native Americans" to you politically correct folks), a child was recognized into existence when a name was assigned by the shamen or father as he exited the teepee and the first thing he saw became the child's name (hence names like "Sitting Bull", "Black Hawk", "Chilly Stream", "Bird Who Pecks at Tree", "Man With Tongue Frozen to Metal Pole", etc.). Many in the Ashkenazic Jewish tradition would not announce the name of a baby boy until the bris ceremony and acquire his own identity. In Sierra Leone, a baby is not considered an independent human being until the umbilical cord falls off. Here in America, for the past few generations, someone is not considered a "full" American until they have a Social Security number assigned to them.

Alas, modern day has usurped all these traditions. You are not a part of society now until you have an email address. Therefore, Lisa and I have taken the liberty of finding a gmail account name that Melissa will have to live with for the rest of her life (well, maybe not now that it is getting easier to get a gmail account). Of course, we also have the password so we will be able to read and control her account (at least until she is 18 - eh, maybe longer, see how long we can last).

Here is her email address: melissajsolomon at gmail dot com (trying to keep the spammers away)

However, don't expect a reply until she is allowed access to email. Maybe that will be by the time she turns 18...

Melissa was so interested in this blog about her she fell asleep reading it:

* This posting is not as reliable a history source as our 1986 World Book Encyclopedias still on my parent's bookshelves (and still more fun to flip pages than searching Wikipedia). Yes, I am old school.