My granddaughter, Eva, was named after three of her great-grandmothers. Kathryn was Ruth’s mom, Katherine was mine and Eva was her grandfather, Larry’s. When her parents put all three names together, her name came out Eva Katheryn.
Eva never knew Kathryn. She was lucky to share a few years with Katherine before she passed and was still luckier to spend more time with Eva (AKA Granny). Eva will be attending Granny’s funeral today. Eva has learned at a young age that saying good-bye to people you love is a difficult thing.
When Eva turned three she had a huge birthday that was attended by many family members and friends. Both living great-grandmothers were among the attendees, and they enjoyed each other’s company.
For several months leading up to that birthday, Eva and her brother, Brady, were going through their “super hero” days. Much of their play involved them assuming the persona of “super heroes”. Brady developed an identity for himself. He was “Everybody Man”.
“Everybody Man” exhibited all the talents of all of his superhero friends. He could leap tall buildings in a single bound (Superman), swing from building to building by shooting spider webs from his fingers (Spider-Man), and was a powerful swimmer (Aquaman). He flew, became invisible, bent steel in his bare hands, fended off the most powerful weapons, had ex-ray vision, and ran faster than everything on the planet. “Everybody Man” could do it all..
Eva took a more simple approach to being a super hero. She was simply, Batman. The first time that she told me who she was, I corrected her and said that she was Batgirl. She turned to me and said, “No, I am Batman and you are Robin!”
The greatest of Eva’s skills is her ability to know who she is and what she wants. She had it when she was three and still exhibits it eight years later. Nobody is going to push her around. Not even “Everybody Man”.
Most of the adventures of Batman and Robin were acted out in Eva’s backyard. We had a home hidden deep within the lilac bushes. Over time we added a table and chairs, stored our Batmobile, and developed many a secretive plan to foil our many foes.
I asked Eva’s Aunt Kathy to help me strengthen the bond that we had developed by making Batcapes for the two of us. She did, and I gave the capes to Eva at her third birthday party. We expanded our adventures “in style” and were able to look as well as act our parts. Our adventures continued until superheroes were replaced by other interests. I miss those days but enjoy the many activities that Eva has chosen to replace them.
If she continues on the path that she has set for herself, she’ll become anything that she choses. She’ll continue to develop the independent spirit that comes so naturally. (And it will drive her father crazy.) She inherited much of it from her great-grandmothers, who each in their own way, cut a path that suited them best. And I think all three would approve of the wonderful young girl that their namesake has become.