a laugh for your saturday

im actually writing this on friday, but i think too many posts in a row might give way to "theroefam overstimulation".

below is an actual conversation that took place today between me and a number i didnt recognize on my cell phone:

me: hello?

caller: hi my name is ___ from five rivers delta. how are you today?

m: great thanks, and you? {why in the world is five rivers calling me}

c: may i speak with.....natalie?

m: this is she

c: oh {nervous laughter} im sorry i didnt know if natalie was an adult or a child.

m: oh, im natalie {what the heck is this about?}

c: well we at five rivers just wanted to call and congratulate you. your entry of "atticus" for our _______ snake {enter some crazy long name like "silver backed diamond head amazon python"} has been chosen as the winner!

m: are you serious?

c: yes mam. we actually have a facebook page and would like to include your name in the announcement. we also have a website and a monthly brochure, both in which we would like to include your name as the originator of Atticus's name. if you dont mind we would also like to know what inspired you to come up with the name.

m: um, this is crazy! actually to tell you the truth, back in april my husband and i were at five rivers for a good friend's wedding reception. the exhibits were open and several of the groomsmen and i entered names in the bowl. atticus was the first name that came to mind so i wrote it down! {along with the groomsmen's contributions such as "on the rocks," "dumb@$$" and other lovelies...}

c: well we love it. oh i forgot to tell you, your name will also be on a plaque on display by Atticus's tank.

m: oh my goodness....why dont we just say my son came up with the name...

c: yes that is great and we will need to put what grade he is in and what inspired him to come up with the name.

m: well i actually came up with the name like i said...i just might want to put his name on it. my son is only two and really couldnt come up with it on his own...but...could i think about this and call you back?

c: that is fine. we can put his and his older brother's name on it. oh but when you call back, could you please ask for shonda?

m: i have only one son.... did you say shauna?

c: no, shonda, like honda with an "s"

m: oh ok

c: i am going out of town on vacation and she will be the one handling all the press.

m: {press? goodness gracious is this for real??}

c: we would also like to send you a backpack with coloring books and pamphlets and other goodies as your prize for naming the snake.

m: {nervous laughter} i cant believe this...i hate that i might have taken the place of another child who wanted to name the snake.

c: the contest was open to the public, and we just love the name atticus.

m: ok i will think about the details and give you a call back.

c: thank you so much, dont forget to ask for shonda.

m: thanks! bye

W H A T ???

so a silly spur-of-the-moment joke turns into a snake named atticus.

im a little embarrassed that i might have taken that hopeful 4th grader's chance of having their name forever engraved in black and gold over mr. atticus the snake's permanent exhibit {well, as long as mr atticus the snake stays....permanent}.

so, after much thought and discussion with loved ones, it will be bennett's name that graces the website, brochures, newsletters, facebook, and plaque.

no one will know the difference.

except for maybe all of you.

so if you run into an employee of five rivers, act dumb. dont let them know my at-the-time 15 month old actually did not come up with the name atticus.

and as for us, we will just let bennett know that the snake was named in honor of him.

by his twenty-something year old mama, who may or may not have been under the influence of a couple glasses of vino....