What’s in a name?

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A pool overlooking the Gulf of California in Puerto Penasco.

What was I thinking when I named my blog “Bleuwater” back in 2014? Today, I’m wondering why did I come up with such a difficult, hard to spell name?

I blame it on Mom, may she rest in peace.

Her favorite color was blue. She was intense about her likes and usually dressed in navy blue. Everyone who knew her also knew blue was her color. Her favorite restaurant, where my mom and dad went for special occasions, was called the Bleu Dolphin, with the French spelling of blue.

She took me there a couple times for a cup of chowder and Dungeness crab cocktail. I was wildly impressed as a child by the restaurant, the food and the name. My mom thought the name was “highbrow.” Her world was defined by things and people she’d call highbrow or lowbrow.

When I started by blog, I was living in a world of water. Summers at the beach and six days a week at the pool as a swim mom. I was so involved with my kids’ swim team that I earned a polo shirt embroidered with the team logo and “Extreme Swim Parent.” I loved to wear that shirt to parent teacher meetings at my kids’ school. The look on the teacher’s face was well worth it!

There’s the story of the name of my blog. Nine years later, perhaps I’d like to change it, but I’ll hang onto “Bleuwater” in memory of Mom and my love of the ocean, lakes and pools.

If you’re a blogger what’s the story behind your blog’s name?

51 thoughts on “What’s in a name?”

  2. All I can say is, looking over the picture you included, the pool overlooking the gulf of California, that does all the explaining that I need. A beautiful shot. My blog name is pretty self-explanatory, but I do think of changing it at times. It’s so long, but I’ve never been able to come up with anything that I think does a better job. I guess I’m stuck with it now. 🙂 🙂 🙂

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  3. I started Mama Lava’s Back Porch during Covid, when we all gathered outdoors. I wanted to create a virtual space that felt as comfy, safe, relaxing, and welcoming as I hoped my real back porch felt to family and friends. I mostly refer to the blog as the Back Porch, because the whole name is too long. You got the length right on yours from the beginning :).

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  4. I woke up one day, post fifty, and it took me a few minutes to get out and moving because my body was so stiff. Never happened before fifty…

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  5. It wasn’t all that long ago that I opted to change to Closer to the Edge. I wanted something that reflected me at this stage in life better. I think it’s nice to honor your mom, but…change is also good and sometimes helps to put life into perspective. You will always have the swim mom part of you, who is EA now or what do you want to be, what matters now and going forward? Just some things to ponder over 🙂

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      • Good! That’s my goal to put all sorts of thoughts into peoples heads to explore 😉

      • It is an interesting idea to think about new names. My blog has changed through the years from writing about parenting to life in our empty nest.

      • I think a lot of people come to the decision to update quite a bit about their blogs when they reach a significant milestone like empty nest, older age, retirement, etc. I think it’s fun to push yourself with a new name, maybe a new theme, update pages or add new ones. It’s like doing a make-over to your home or yourself. Sometimes you just need that 😉

      • It something to think about. I did add a new page a few months ago listing what I’ve had published. That was a fun exercise, because I remember 20 years of articles. I’ve also updated my tag line. I think it’s also a good idea to update “About.” I’ve read that as a tip from another blogger.

      • Yes, the About page really needs to reflect changes. I dislike reading about someone when they were 20 and they are now blogging in their 40’s!

  7. Mine is a little more straightforward: Does not matter what we think, write, or how we express ourselves, the earth just spins. It does not stop or change for politics, death, birth, Pulitzer prizes, Novels, of triple homicides. Earth has it right, people have it wrong.

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  8. I’ve always loved the name of your blog, and believe it to be most appropriate. I think Madame Sprague would have like it, too! ; ) (..our French and Latin teacher at S.H.S., though I seem to recall you being active in the German Club) 🍻LOL! I especially like it even more, now knowing its ties to your dear mother. High brow, it is!

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    • Thanks, Brock! Yes, Mrs. Sprague would like it. What a character she was. Remember her smoking in the closet and smoke seeping through the bottom of the door? 😊 Thanks for weighing in!

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  9. The name of my blog is based on a black bear, called the spectacled bear, who has white fur around its eyes that looks like eyeglasses. I saw him at the zoo one day, loved him & his personality, and realized that I could adapt his name for my blog. I’ve been wearing spectacles almost all my life– and I am, of course, a Bean. Hence The Spectacled Bean was born.

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  10. I love the story behind your blog’s title…super sweet…and the connections you’ve made to water, convey the theme…big parts of who you are. And of course, I love the idea of retaining the name because of the origin story – and the sweet connection to your mom. So good! I haven’t peeked, but have you included this homage reference to your mom in your ‘about’ info? 🥰

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  12. I think you’ve done a great job of making a memorable blog name and given your long blogging history and honoring of your mom, it seems perfect. How fun to hear the story of the name of your blog. “Extreme swim parent” seems like a good badge to earn. History, family, hobbies – the name captures it all!

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  13. I get confused because I think of you as E.A. Wickham, not bleuwater. 🤣 I named my blog after my longing for a calm and peaceful life.

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