Four Years

This week, Chris and I will celebrate our 4 year anniversary. So grateful to have this man by my side. I remember when I lived with my friend Jessica, we were discussing the Bright Eyes song, "First Day of My Life," and we were discussing the lyric, "But I'd rather be working for a paycheck/ Than waiting to win the lottery." When I married Chris, I was over the moon for him, but I felt we were very different people. I went into this marriage thinking I'd be "working for a paycheck," which in some ways is a great attitude to have; marriage is nothing if not hard work. What I didn't know--couldn't have known-- is that I'd actually won the lottery. All these so-called differences that I was convinced would matter so much just don't somehow. Other qualities, more subtle qualities, rise to the surface: the fact that I really can talk to him about anything, his inexhaustible ability to forgive and move past quarrels, an inborn need to be a good man/worthy priesthood holder, etc. I'm fairly certain wouldn't be nearly as satisfied with marriage if I had a different partner in crime.

And that's about as mushy as I'm going to get on the matter in a public forum. As I'm sure many of you know, how I really feel about this man is language unprintable. Not indecent, just... no one else's business. For his ears only. Ya know.

So, to be almost completely superficial about the matter, I'd like the mark the event with a Top 5 list. One of the great things about being different from your spouse is that your world is always broadening with new ideas, experiences, and--in our case--media exposure. When we started going out, I was pretty sure I'd come across "my" style of music, movies, etc. and that those preferences were unlikely to change. And yet if it weren't for Chris, I may never have stumbled across some of the most stellar and moving pieces of the music and film industries. I'd like to think I've done the same for him. After all, who can really live a full and emotionally healthy life without regular doses of Eric Clapton or Barbra Streisand? I shudder at the prospect of such a dark, gray world.

Top 5 Favorite Things C Has Introduced Me To:

(in no particular order)

1. Slapstick comedy: Before getting to know Chris, the only real slapstick comedy I'd seen was What's Up, Doc? A gem, to be sure, but hardly even the tip of the iceberg. Ever seen the Marx Brothers' A Night at the Opera? Oh, friends, if there is no room in your soul for this kind of impetuous silliness, I really am very sad for you. This movie is so funny! I now also enjoy the old Pink Panther movies.

2. Bob Marley: Me? A Reggae fan? Who'd have thought. Though, really, I can hardly call myself a fan of the genre as a whole; Brother Marley has got some pretty jivin' tunes. And then there's "Redemption Song," a prime example of the sort of music I thought I knew all about--and yet, here was this song, so Becca-like in nature, and I'd completely no idea it even existed until one Christopher Tingey came along.

3. The Great Escape: For a long time, my favorite my genre has been the self-labeled category of "heist films." You know, movies about extreme sneakiness. Ocean's 11, Sneakers, Out of Sight, The Firm. Someone's trying to pull off some clandestine (usually illegal, at the very least dangerous) against-all-odds mission. I'd heard of The Great Escape, but never seen it. Now it comfortably resides in my top 10 favorite films of all time. James Garner? Steve McQueen? A bunch of dudes escaping a POW camp? Fuggedaboutit. Sold.

4. The Smith's: One song will change your life forever: "Girlfriend in a Coma." You don't know it? You should. Look it up on iTunes. Like, right now.

5. Watership Down, by Richard Adams: Don't think a book about bunnies could be very interesting? That's what I thought. Chris is not much of a reader. But one week I brought home this book from the library because Sawyer was reading it on LOST, and I was curious about the connection. Well. Chris saw it and got all excited. He remembered the cartoon from childhood. Next thing I know, the man is completely consumed by this book; won't put it down. So I was naturally very curious. And friends, it didn't disappoint. This book is beautifully written and thought provoking. Give it a whirl.

Just, You Know, Because

Well, I certainly appreciate all the positive feedback about my previous blog header, but our blog page is our home page, so every time I opened an Internet window, I had to see myself looking back at me. It was entirely unnerving. So. Here is my new, picture-less header.

I had a request from a friend a few days back to compile a list of the names we've been perusing, for her side-by-side comparison. Here goes:

1.) Ada Jane

Meaning: Noble, God is Gracious

Status: Out of the running

2.) Catherine

NN: Cate

Meaning: pure (Greek)

Status: Winner!!! Though, it must be said we still don't know if we'll name her Katherine and just call her Kate or actually name her Kate. But I think we like the K spelling the best.

3.) Elizabeth

NN: Betsey

Meaning: pledged to God (Hebrew)

Status: Out of the running as a first name; Elizabeth is still a contender for a middle name.

4.) Jane

Meaning: "God is Gracious"

Status: This was/is the #2 choice. We're calling her Kate full-time, but I woke up in a panic yesterday morning with a temporary but intense desire to call her Jane.

5.) Samantha

NN: Sam

Meaning: Hebrew, "Told by God"

Status: Out of the running

We've decided to stop adding new names to the mix. We like Kate a lot, and while Jane has more personal meaning, I'm having a hard time overriding a persistent feeling that this girl's name is just Kate and that's really all there is to it. So, Kate it is unless I start waking in more panics like yesterday morning. Your comments have been a HUGE help, especially in pointing out where there might be potential problems. Chris, Becca, Will & Sam simply don't go together. I like the clear simple femininity of names like Kate and Jane. So, there's that.

And a note to all my great-with-child-friends or family members: Don't let my name choice affect yours. Not choosing a name because I chose it is just plain silly. For the record, I'm not going to assume you copied me or were even inspired by me. I AM going to assume that your personal life journey led you to liking the same kinds of names I do, but then I suppose that would be obvious. I don't even care if this girl has a cousin with the same name. But since about half of my currently with-child friends have been named some form of the Katherine name, I'm guessing the likelihood of this is, in any case, slim.

And now, since the sky is currently making some sound similar to the smoke monster from LOST, and it's nap time, I'm going to snuggle up under a warm blanket and my copy of Bossypants.