Friday, February 1, 2008

His Name

I have this compulsion to say Owen's name out loud at least once a day. Often, I'll just whisper it to myself, sort of a reminder, I guess. Its gotten so I don't even really notice I'm doing it. Its part of my routine, like brushing my teeth before bed. Last night, I stopped and really paid attention. I love the sound of his name. I realized, though, I always say it the same - like a sigh. I think of all the different ways I say his brother and sister's names- laughing, questioning, frustrated, frightened, joyful. I want to stand in my backyard and call Owen's name over and over in all those different ways. Most of all, though, I want him to come running when I call.



* J. is fine- thank you all for asking. Antibiotics may have changed the fate of many a 19th century literary heroine.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

So glad to hear J is fine!!!

I find I say Aodin's name out loud as well... usually when I am by myself, though as often as I can I will also fit it into conversation...

Clarissa said...

I know this is straying off the topic a bit, but there are friends/family of mine who cannot “say” Amelie’s name. They say “your daughter” or “your little girl”. It frustrates me – why can’t they say her name? Her name is music to my ears.

Coggy said...

Glad J is doing OK too.
I love saying Jacobs name out loud. But I love hearing other people say it even more. It makes me smile so much to hear other people use his name.

c. said...

Like the others, I love my son's name. I love that you say Owen's everyday. I don't know if I've been that purposeful about it. I will be now.

Glad J. is better.

Rosalind said...

I write Micah's name a lot more than I say it ...But when I do get a chance to say her name I do..I don't say 'the baby' or anything else like that ..Just her name

Mrs. Collins said...

I too love to say my son's name. In fact I think I talk more about Jimmy (my angel) than Andy (my living child). But ditto what Clarissa said, others have a hard time saying his name. Perhaps they want to distance themselves from him or the fact that he was a real person. Owen is a really nice name, especially the "wh" sound it makes in between the long O sound and short E sound.

charmedgirl said...

i kinda cringe when i hear other people say p@ige's name. i just can't get over how she was never really here..

The Goddess G said...

Glad that J is doing better. I imagine it was quite scary. Sometimes I find a way to bring up Joseph's name in conversation...but it always feels like it gets stuck in my throat. Not sure why that is.
~Carole

k@lakly said...

I am with Charmed girl. I get freaked if someone else says his name outloud, like they are stripping me bare in public.
On the other hand, my daughter has a boy in her class, who has the same name, figures, so I have to hear it and say it outloud when I work in the class. Boy, I can't tell you how much fun that was the first few times it happened. Not.

Glad to hear the plague has been wiped out once again!