What's in a name? Part II

Associated Press

So they couldn't find a Supreme Court nominee with one surname?  What's a mother to do?
What's my mother to do? 
On this week's visit, Mom peppered me with all kinds of high-court questions:
"How old do you have to be for the Supreme Court?" "Can you retire from the court?" "Can there be more than nine judges?"
But on one point, she was certain: "That girl is smart!" But the name just wouldn't come out right: "I like that Amy Kamala Cody ... whatever her name is."
Amy Coney Barrett is like the smart older sister I never had: the one who didn't need to study, or, in Barrett's case, didn't need notes to help her during Senate confirmation hearings.
I would have hated that sister.
But the hearings prompted other questions from Mom: "What is succotash? You know the name for the  Supreme Court?" She meant SCOTUS
"What does the electrical college do?" Valid question, actually. Do most of us really know what the electoral college does?
"Does she (Barrett) believe in climate chain?" Actually, the nominee evaded that question, as she did others.
"What is judicial present?" That's where current judges follow previously decided cases, or precedent,  in ruling on subsequent ones. Not when they receive gifts.
My mother is more attuned to politics this year then I can ever remember her being, which may be true for many of us. To quote Queen Elizabeth, 2020 may be forever known as "annus horribilis." 
My mother makes copious notes about daily life on her calendar, a kitchen sink-sized tableau for all things Regina. But the notes are about other people and things, too, and in no particular order.
Tuesday, Sept.30: "First debate. Awful. Lots of name calling. Disaster. Chris Wallace."
Sunday, Oct. 4: "Breakfast with David (my brother). Shop at Target. What is the Paris acorn?" (An agreement among the U.S. and other nations to fight climate chain (whoops, I meant change!). 
Monday, Oct. 12: "Dr. Casandra. 2 p.m. Great exam!"
Tuesday, Oct. 13: Undecipherable scribbling. (That day must have been a wash.)
Call it "dies horribilis."
I'm thinking November's calendar, at least after the 3rd, won't have many of those. 



       

   

     
  

  





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