Re: Marty and Doug
"Why would you do that?" Doug asked with a frown. "If you want him to live up to a reputation, why not pick people who mean something? Presidents, scientists, people who've made a real contribution to the world." He didn't plan to have children, but if he did, he certainly wouldn't call them after anyone in the family. In fact, they had even had this discussion with Susan. "I was talking to a journalist about this once, and she asked me what I'd call my very hypothetical future kids and there was only one answer possible.' He smiled at the memory. "When I told her that our family is so tied to the country, she guessed without me even saying it. George for Washington and John for Kennedy."
Doug shrugged. "It's normal in all dimensions if you're in politics, or in business, or in many upper class section of life. My goal was never to become the average Joe." His goal was to be the President of the United States. "I... I don't think I've ever been to the beach. Unless there was some political reason. By the time Dad was out of the White House, I had other commitments, and it never occurred to me. I'm pretty sure that Florida was the first time that counted for pleasure."
He was not going to argue with the rest, because it sounded too much like Savannah, and next came the Kumbaya and Doug didn't have the energy to have another to with this. "There is a difference between helping people when in a crises, something that even my parents would do, regardless what people might think and the rest. Also I didn't have my brother's back. He's my brother and I didn't come for them, but for him." He liked Travis and TJ might consider him family, but he'd never really be family as far as Doug was concerned. Then again, he didn't think Anne had ever really been family and they were married. "How about I won't need someone to talk to? That sounds like a much better outcome.