what is in a name? um, what isn't.
as our baby girl gets closer and closer to being here, so does the day we get to hold her up, give her a good look and bless her with the most perfect, unique, special, made-for-just-for-her name.
naming a human is a big fickin' deal. it really can define a person. it is what people see and think before they even meet you sometimes. it can play a large part in how you will be harassed for years to come. or even how many letters of the alphabet you will know before all of the other kids your age. and if its bad, you're stuck with it. eeks.
as parents aaron and i don't exactly bring the simple, cool factor to the name game. i like my name, but come on, its NOT sexy. i like that i was always the only linda growing up. i never had to be linda i. or really use my long confusing last name. i like that it rhymes with nothing vulgar and is pretty challenging to terrorize with. most of all i like my name because my daddy dad gave it to me. my momma had originally named me something else when i was born. then she passed out and my dad went ahead and changed it while she was, uh, resting from the traumatic experience that is birth. he didn't want wake her to confirm, i am certain only because he wanted to let her rest. such a sweet man. my dad is very to himself, very go with the flow, very yes dear, in personality. so when i think about how much it must have meant to him, to make such a gutsy, out of character move, just for me to forever be named linda...welp, i need no further explanations really. so here i am, linda. and maybe, this name is a little, say, mature. actually i can't think of one sweet baby linda born since 1981. we are a dying breed. but it has served me well. in fact, i was able to use my common, but dated, name when i was single out to mingle. it was a rule of thumb, if i met a guy and it went like this...
me: hi, i'm linda.
he: linda!!! that's my mom's name.
um, it was a definite no-go. so dorky. and so unnecessary. tell me your name first bozo, then we'll get to your momma, mmmmmmkay. ta-ta.
now aaron, that is a good name. lots like it. lots use it. people know how to say and spell it. in fact, the world liked it so much they gave it a spin and made it for girls too. neat. but my baby daddy was given a version of this simple classic that takes it to another level. his name is actually spelled AAron. yes two capitol a's. his momma thought it was a good idea and it would be unique. i'd weigh in, it was and it is. but being involved with print journalism both as a god given talent, along with his profession, this has-and constantly still does- raise a few brows. he is always being asked if it is a typo, what it means, etc. i can see why he thinks it is a little annoying. i rarely write my name for the world to read, so someone like me could have skated by with it just being a here and there ice breaker. but not him. nope, nopey, nope. his name, AAron, is printed in one of the most popular, successful newspapers in our country day, after day, after day. who knew?
all that being shared, i must say feel really blessed, that for an eternity i have known exactly what i would name my children. god told me in this foggy, but certain way, a long time ago that i would have a boy named dash and a girl named... you get it. sounds goofy, but it is the truth. other super names have come and gone, but these two have been unwavering for as long as i can remember. i even told aaron when we were first dating and things like baby naming talk was trivial and innocent, about this set girl name. we made a pact that if we ever had children he could name the boy because my fate on that was sealed, but in the event we had a girl, she would be ___. no discussion. he of course agreed, nodded, and blew me off, knowing we would only have strapping young men. whooops, looks like joke was on him with that one. luckily we love this name. and when i say it, or think it, or picture her writing it, i get this overwhelming wave of certainty.
it is her.
it is perfect.
we cannot wait to introduce you...
