[by Samara]
When I was earning my undergrad at ETSU, I got the exciting opportunity to write for the school paper. It was a really big deal to me—and to Dad. My friend was the editor of the feature section, and I'd have the opportunity to write opinion pieces, school news, and current event stories. I was ecstatic.
My first task: Name my column. I was stumped. I was maybe 19 years old. I hadn't had much published at that point, and I saw this as my big chance to make a name for myself. Finally! And I wanted it to be perfect.
Dad came over one day and I was telling him all about it. After I rambled on for hours about the possibilities, he responded with the perfect suggestion: Ramblin' Rose.
I'm Samara Rose, named after his grandparents (Sam and Rose). I apparently had no shortage of words. And, thanks to Dad, I loved the Grateful Dead.
Ramble on Rose is a classic Dead tune. Legend has it the song is nothing but nonsense. But thanks to Dad, it meant something to me.
I named my column Ramblin' Rose. And aside from a few philosophy classes, during which my professor ripped my opinion pieces to shreds, I loved writing that column.
Years later, I danced with Dad to that song at my wedding. And just last year, I got a tattoo of two big roses and a banner that reads "ramble on." But those are stories for other posts...
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