Sunlight Finds You
I’m named Eleanor because I was born a week after Eleanor Roosevelt came to Kansas City to campaign for her husband. At the time, my parents were living in Rolla, Missouri, and my mother said that even if not for
Eleanor Roosevelt's visit to Kansas City in the early 1900s left a lasting impression on young Eleanor, who would later bear her namesake. Born in Rolla, Missouri, Eleanor's mother admired the courage of the First Lady and agreed to her suggestion of using the shortened name Nora. Though unaware of its Greek origin, the name Eleanor means "shining light."
When Eleanor met Leonard, he shared that the name derived from Helen, signifying light. This knowledge, though unspoken, likely resonated with Eleanor, whose mother loved sunlight.
Eleanor's mother was firm on honesty, especially when it came to deceiving others. If a friend asked if she liked their new dress, Eleanor would pretend not to remember or change the subject. However, on a fateful day in sixth grade, she succumbed to temptation and lied about cleaning mud off her skirt. Disguising the truth with words, Eleanor altered the podium sign to read "mr. rude," igniting laughter among her classmates.
Unbeknownst to her teacher, Mr. Pile, the shift in tone left him visibly uncomfortable, realizing he was the subject of their teasing.
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