Friday Fragments: With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

Owen has really been into getting a dog recently. He announced over breakfast that he wanted "a nice dog with yellow hair like Joely." He added that the dog's name should be Splash.

"No, Buddy," I corrected him, "We've discussed this. The dog will be named Atticus if it's a boy and Scout if it's a girl. It's non-negotiable."

Owen shook his head fiercely and declared, "No Atticus, just Splash."

I sighed and put down my coffee cup. "Atticus is the awesomest name ever, son. I wanted to name you Atticus but your father wouldn't let me. What kind of name is Splash? Who do you know who has a dog named Splash?"

"Nobody," he said, shifting his eyes as he does when he's not being totally honest.

"Owen," I pressed, "Are you sure?"

He mumbled, "The guy on TV. The white haired guy."

I pondered. He doesn't watch much TV. What white-haired guy was he referring to? It came to me suddenly: "Do you mean Senator Ted Kennedy, Buddy?"

"Um-hm. The guy on TV!" Ah, it's clear now. The late Ted Kennedy was on a PBS kid's show, Ruff Ruffington.

My son cannot yet spell his last name, but he's already bought into the Kennedy Mystique.

Make no mistake, however. I will win this battle. The dog of our future will be named Atticus or Scout. End of discussion.  

***

Paul and I don't go to the movies very often. Like, ever. The last movie we saw in the theater was Iron Man.

We will be in Colorado visiting my parents at the same time that Iron Man 2 hits the screens. The symmetry is too perfect. We will see that film, and then we will not go to the theatres again for at least two more years.

It's okay. I have a massive crush on crazy Robert Downey Jr.

***
When I married Paul, I was excited to get the upgrade to the top of the alphabet. My maiden name started with a "M," and Paul's, of course, started with a "C."

I recalled many a time that I had to wait in school--for pictures or the Presidential Fitness Test (just to give two examples), until they got to the middle of the alphabet. Such agony! I wanted to be first! I hated waiting.

Sometimes, a teacher would switch things up, so Larry Ziegler got to be first and Lisa Armstrong was last. But guess who was still in the middle?

I really should have started a support group.

Let me throw out there that my maiden name was Mohrman, pronounced "Mormon." I have no issues with my Latter-Day-Saint friends and readers (Hi, y'all), but the Joseph Smith jokes got old. Yes I know: "If you're gonna bring 'em, Brigham Young!" Har. Har.

Let me point out I grew up minutes from one of the Mormon temples. I always had to tell Larry Ziegler that no,  my family does not sing in the choir.

By the way, my name actually means "Black Man" in German. And that is awesome. 

Anyway, I married Paul and figured that I could handle a few lame jokes about soup. After all, I would be one of the first names called.

Yesterday, I got the snack list for Owen's T-Ball and found out that I was first to provide snacks. I had minimal notice, yet threw it together. All because of the C last name.

I'm learning that with great power comes great responsibility.

*** Happy Friday, everybody! Thanks to Mrs. 4444 for hosting!