Surname

I am not for certain why I don’t want my last name posted on my blog. I don’t think it is paranoia or anything like that. I’m not even sure if it is humility. The only thing I seem to know concerning this subject is this: It will be very hard to write this blog without presenting my last name. (If you don’t believe me, just read the next sentence.)
According to HowManyOfMe.com there are 34 people with my name, John DeMuth, in the U.S.A. (The website did not capitalize the M. I don’t like it when the M in my last name is not presented in upper case.) Lots of people share my first name, over five million people according to this website--

Before I continue much further, I must clarify the validity of HowManyOfMe. The website itself, when addressing it’s own accuracy, states, “[The program is] more accurate than a Magic 8-ball. Less accurate than distributing and collecting 300 million surveys” and “In our completely non-expert opinion, we say that the program gives a decent ballpark estimate, but it shouldn't be used for anything more than that.” So it is very possible - almost without-a-doubt - incorrect. I’m perfectly fine with that.

-- Now, what about my last name? Only just over 2,000 people get the privilege of having the same last name as me. I wouldn’t be surprised if you were jealous. Most last names only have one capital letter, and of the few that have more most of them start with “Mc” I would say that you have every right to be envious, but I wouldn’t encourage it.
I was going somewhere with this - Oh! - DeMuth. Most people pronounce it incorrectly, or at least differently than my line of family pronounces it. It is not “Duh-mooth” or “Deh-muh-th” or even in the worst instance “Doo-Math.” In case you are wondering, it is, in the best way I can pronounce it with text, “Deh-Myouth” If you are still confused, just give me a ring.
Needless to say, but I shall say it anyway, DeMuth is not a very common name. (Not to say my mothers maiden name of “Sulfridge” is much better... and I won’t even try to teach you how to pronounce that one) I would imagine that some people meet strangers in their lifetime that share the same last name. I say “I would imagine” because this has never happened to me. Still to this day everyone whom I have ever met with the last name “DeMuth” are related to me in some way. To make matters worse my father has three older sisters. It is not particularly “worse” because of the fact alone that he has sisters, but it is particularly “worse” if you want to see your family name continue. In most cases a woman’s last name changes to her husbands when they get married, and this is not good for me or my last name. It is specifically not good for me alone because I am the only son of my father that shares his last name. I hope I have a son some day.
(I keep trying to transition to a particular idea that inspired this blog, but the segues are not working out for me so far.)
Ahem. I was listening to the radio today while I was driving. The radio station I was listening to was not doing a very good job at holding my attention, so I decided to see what else was on. Now channel surfing on the TV is much different than on a Radio. You don’t have any pretty colors or text to catch your eye, you only have sound. I don’t know how long I was scanning the FM frequencies, but that doesn’t matter too much. What does matter, is that I heard it.

“Duh-mooth.”

Two men, apparently uneducated in the proper way to pronounce DeMuth, talking about the author of a new book Daisy Chain by Mary DeMuth. -As far as I know, we are not related, and the good news is, she is married. So that means there is at least one male DeMuth out there helping to keep the name alive.- After listening for about five minutes, I discovered that the name was spelled the same - with my much loved capital M and everything!
Without too much more details, I have learned something about myself. I want to read a book for the first time, not because of a catchy tile or description, but solely because the author shares the same last name.

I’ll let you know if I enjoy the book.

--John D.