There are the faces you can't put names to and then there are the names you don't have a face for. Yesterday, however, after a trip to meet a generous distant relative in Wales, I was finally able to put a face to my father's cousin Ivy Miriam Burnett. And not only did I get a face, but as a bonus I got a cello and saxophone as well.
Interestingly, the surname Burnett is not common in the Caribbean. That is, until I arrived on the scene. However, there are many Burnette's to the extent that my bank statements, electricity bills, etc. are always addressed that way and there's no way I can convince the senders otherwise. But an exception to the normal run of things is a Dominican of African descent with the name Roger Burnett. When we meet his staged greeting is: "I'm Roger Burnett". That being the cue to my response: "But I'm Roger Burnett!" Could it be that in the days of slavery there was a plantation owner related to us?
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, my namesake doesn't play the cello or saxophone.