Hugo 1

Hugo is the Latinized form of the name Hugh and was used in the Middle Ages as the official written form. Hugh has Frankish (Germanic) roots and comes from the Old French “Hughes” derived from “hug,” meaning ‘heart, mind, spirit.’ The aristocracy of medieval France adopted Hugh/Hugo, no doubt due to the name’s favorable meaning, i.e., an intelligent person or one who is bright in heart, mind, and spirit. My uncle Heinz liked the name and his first car, a 1945 Dodge that carried the family all over California, from Crystal Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains to Huntington Beach, and all on bald tires, Hugo 1. I am not sure how intelligent our escapades were, but the brightness in heart, mind, and spirit went a long way. This story’s purpose is a joyride of possibilities that run through my mind as I recall the carefree days in Hugo 1.