Thanks to a little street called Dearly Boulevard in my home town of Deerton, I always thought that the abbreviation “Blvd.” on street signs actually stood for “Beloved.”

Isn’t that a nice thought?

Instead of an old French-Dutch loanword for fortification shamelessly slathered over streets to give them a dash of European class, the name suddenly becomes a loving tribute. Gardner Beloved–beloved so much that the street was named after him. Patterson Beloved, for he was one of the founders of our town. Melissa Ann Carroll Beloved, and taken from us too soon by a crash on the lane which now bears her name.

  • Like what you see? Purchase a print or ebook version!