In my brother's cohort, there was a glut of girls he knew (or who married someone he knew) who were named "Mary Something." There was a few Mary Janes, a couple of Mary Pats, a Mary Fran, and a few other variations. There was a Mary Pat in my class as well, but I can't think of any more my age.

On Saturday, Mom and I were driving around the old neighborhood (my street is the same, except the trees are huge!), and she decided to visit my brother's best friend from high school. I hadn't seen Pat and his wife Mary Fran since my brother got married the first time back in 1988, so that was really fun to see them again! They were both so sweet--when we pulled up, Pat came out, was confused when he saw Mom's car before seeing who was driving it, and then came over and gave Mom a huge hug through the window before she could even get out of the car. I think she last saw him about 10 years ago.

I've been married for 115.88 Kardashians. Impressive.

Molly (and Polly) are 19th century nicknames for Mary.

I know I've told it before, but I don't care! When I was about five, one of my parent's couple friends were Polly and John. I loved her name so much. Once I asked her whether I could call her Polly. Before her answer was out, both of my parents chimed in unison, "No, you may not ['The horror, the horror!" implied.]" Pouty-pout-pout-pout. Mrs. B would have said, "No," too, but. Wow. I still remember that so vividly. Why so such an impact, little Jen?

My car is now named Polly, though. My niece remembered me telling her that story, and she suggested it when I was mentioning that I still hadn't named my car. Funny.

I'd have been Angus George.

Good think I was a girl, I guess.

I was almost an Allison or a Laura, and really nearly a Rebecca until my mom had one in her class that she claims really was the devil's spawn.

My favorite name of all of my friends' children is Eliza Ruby. I love it, and I don't know why. Neither of those names is one I'd choose, but together, they are perfect to me.

[I'm having trouble with possessives and plurals today]

I think I've said before how my father's mother gave my mother a list of acceptable girls' names for me, and Mom picked the one she didn't hate. I think she had more leeway with my sister.

I can't remember what I was going to be if I were a boy. But Mom wanted Michelle Leann (or maybe it was Meredith).

Mom was almost Karen but another girl was born just before Mom and was named Karen so grandma changed it, then Karen's family moved away.

Mom insisted on naming my brother, he went 3 days without a name (I think it took 2 days to settle on my nephew's name, before they changed it I mean). There was disagreement about his first name because it was the same as: 1 sister's dog, the other sister's ex boyfriend, and 1 of dad's brother's then girlfriend. But my uncle and his girlfriend broke up, the dog died, and the only reason anyone mentions them is for this story.

My dad was a JR and I would have been the III, if I had been a boy.

I always thought that if I ever had a baby girl, I'd love to name her Alicia Marie, after my two grandmothers (Alice and Mary, but better known as Mae).