Jared Keith Franklin Calkins            May  5, 1993
         610 North Main Street                   x lbs. x oz.
         Berrien Springs, Mich.  49103-1013      x inches

         My mother selected my name, since my father named my older
         brother. That was because my mother had selected a name for
         a girl even before my parents were married, but my father
         reserved veto power.

         My father told me that he wanted a name I could be proud of,
         a name that would distinguish me, without making me self-
         conscious of it.  He felt severe tension between common names
         and unique names.  He also has been studying his family his-
         tory since he was about eight years old.  My mother despaired
         of me being named after one of his ancestors.  Somehow names
         like Alfred, Elias, Erastus, and Neziah were not high on her
         list of favorites.  My father also told me that if I didn't
         like my name, I could change it, but he would not help me select
         a new one or pay for it--he'd worked hard enough.  He also
         said I would be given a new name when I got to heaven anyway.

         As I've written above, Jared Keith Franklin Calkins is my
         full name.  It's quite a mouthful, but I'll learn it eventually.
         It is also quite cleverly constructed.  My initials JKFC are
         almost the same as my grandfather's and uncle's initials: 
         James Fred Calkins.

         Jared meaning.
         
         Keith meaning.  My father assures me that it was not his idea to 
         include the name Keith. 
         
         Franklin meaning and genealogical origin.

         The Calkins names comes down from Hugh
         Calkins, born about 1600 came to the new world in the late
         1630's seeking religious freedom and is my Calkins ancestor.
         My father expects me to learn Hugh-John-Hugh-Joshua-Thomas-
         Durkee-Elias-Osman-Henry-Louis-James-Keith-Jared so that I
         can teach my cousins where our name comes from.  My father
         also told me to be proud of our heritage of religious freedom.