...have I been so entertained by the naming of a child.
In the breeder world I once inhabited, the naming of a child was not entertaining, it was traumatic!
My wife and I had a deal - I named the first boy, she named the first girl and we alternated.
Well the first born was a boy, and The Mother In Law was bound and determined the child be named after her father. RALPH! I declined. She insisted. I declined again. She offered a college trust fund. I declined again. Why, she wailed was I so hateful about her father!. Said I: "I abhor the name Ralph (actually I think I used the "H" word); I have never met a Ralph I like. Do you want me to name my son a name I find detestable." Answer, "If you love me, Yes!).
He was named Robert Shafer, after my godfather!
Next comes a girl. Mom opts for two family names "Sarah", and "Tarleton" (after a Mayflower ancestor).
(As an aside, my in-laws were quite proud of their blue-ribbon heritage: Mayflower 3 times, Order of the Cinncinatti, SAR. DAR, First Families of Viginia, etc.) In fact, my father initially objected to my marrying his daughter because , as an adoptee, I came from a questionable gene pool. His other two sons-in-law came from impecable blood lines. One comitted suicide and left the body for his 9 year old son to discover, the other regularly beat his wife until she left him.)
Now I didn't mind the name "Sarah" - for a an adult, professional young lady it is quite dignified. However, for everyday use it semed a bit formal. Neither of us liked Sally, and her sister was Sal - so we settled on "Tarlie" (from the Tarleton) as a childhood name. As fate would have it, it stuck - even though her friends constantly thought she said her name was "Charlie". Unfortunately, she not only kept the "Tarlie", but when she got married, she refused to adopt her husband's surname. (He and I both agree she is being silly on this issue, and it raises all sorts of problems with the kids at school having a Mom with a different last name than theirs.)
Next came boy II - her turn again. We had easily settled on Alexander (a family name after Alexander Grant (yes, that Garnt) Sharp. But should it be Alexander Grant, or Alexander Sharp? The obvious solution was to burder the poor lad with Alexander Grant Sharp Albert for life!
Next come the grandkids! She wants to name the first one Alex - never mind that's her brothers name! She solves the problem by naming him Benjamin Alexander - a perfectly fine name. I like Benjanmin. Tough! He shall be called Alex! (And now has the expected problems with teachers not knowing his first name!)
Number two Grandson got a bit easier, William, 'caused she liked it, and it's my middle name) and Carl, her husband's middle name and my Dad's first name). I have been forbidden to ever call him "Wil" -his name is "William"! (Try to tell that to all the teachers, coaches, boy scout leaders, etc, who insist on "Wil". )
But you know parental namimng can work out OK. When I found out my birth name was "Louis", I was eternally grateful to be an adopted "Bruce".
der Brucer
Yes, Jose there will be another quiz!
