Psychologists often say a parent’s childhood influences can affect their adult life and/or how they parent their own children, good or bad, years later. Examples: a child of an alcoholic becoming an alcoholic or an abused child abusing his/her own children when an adult.
            As the parent of a young girl, I think I may have inflicted my daughter with something that tormented me as a child.
            My name is Denis. Most of the time, the name Denis is spelled Dennis. Growing up, I was never able to buy a name license plate for my bike. I was never able to buy plastic mugs, key chains, pencils, etc. sporting my name. You know those swivel stands, usually found in souvenir shops, loaded with pre-personalized items that often bring happiness to children? Well, those damn things only brought me disappointment and a grumpy face. Though I always searched for the elusive “Denis” item, I never found one.
            I remember as a child my mother buying a “Dennis” bicycle license plate and altering the NN to look like N. Try as she did, the resulting N looked retarded and I refused to put it on my bike.
            This may seem ridiculous to you, Bob, Tom, Mary, and Susan, but to me it was an annoyance that continues to haunt me to this day-yes, I still look.
            Ladies and gentlemen, I have made the above true for my daughter, Reilly. The influence has become reality.
            Before Reilly was born, my then wife and I settled on two names for our child and we agreed to pick the winning name after the birth. My name for the kid was Reilly and my wife’s choice was a “normal” name.
            Though the final name was a joint decision, you really can not blame Reilly’s mother because her name is a “normal” name and I am sure she was unaware of my childhood trauma. Why did I choose a name guaranteeing Reilly a lack of pre-personalized novelty items?

  Along with their annual Fright Fest airing this Halloween weekend, AMC TV is hosting streaming versions of several cool, old school B horror movies; including the awesome Werewolves on Wheels!
  The weekend is here and it wishes to be harshly treated.