My parents were unable to have children, so in the early 70’s they decided to adopt a child, which was myself.

My parents wanted a son as their first child, so they started to pick out names. My father, somehow convinced my mother on these three names: Rasputin, Osgood and Thaddeus. Not only was one of these going to be the first name, but then one of the other two would be the middle name. “Thaddeus Osgood! Let the playground beatings begin!”

Thankfully, I was seven months old and already responding to the orphange’s name, James. They told my parents that changing my name would be a bad idea and bad for me. I to this day thank those nameless social workers in the past who saved me. But not totally…. Anyhow, love the site!

-James Thaddeus