Nice round letters

My first name might be “Baby.”

Many mothers, fathers and families say something along the lines of “Hi Baby!” to a baby long before it’s officially named or born. There are countless videos, tv shows and films that suggest this.

Example 1: The dad gently puts his ear to to his pregnant wife’s belly. He smiles with wonder and pulls away for a second. Then he’ll speak directly to the belly. “Hi Baby,” he says.

Example 2: Sometimes a toddler-aged big sister or big brother will pat the mother’s belly and sweetly say, “Baby.”‘

Example 3: At prenatal checkups, nurses, doctors and ultrasound technicians sometimes ask, “How’s Baby?”

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“Baby” has Old English origins. Some argue that “baby” is imitative of the first words babies say: “Ba ba ba ba ba.”

Others argue that babies are gifts from heaven and that’s that.

People — and this is new information — are opinionated about babies.

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My second name is Constance. My friends call me Connie.

Constance means steadfast and reliable. Connie means knowledgeable. I do my best.

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When I was in high school my friend Raymond told me I should go by Constance.

“‘Connie’ sounds like a secretary’s name,” he said with disgust.

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When I worked at Marshalls, my friend Andy used to call me Constance whenever my mood swung from cheerful to pissed.

“Constance is here,” she’d say. “Look out.”

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When I worked at a Bruegger’s Bagel Bakery, a new hire asked me my name.

“Connie Ross,” I told her.

“Hmmm,” she said. “Nice round letters.”

I remember panicking a little shortly before I got married because “Connie Kuntz” doesn’t have nice round letters.

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I’m sorry to say I do not remember the name of the gal who said my name had nice round letters. I am disappointed in myself. I should at least be able to remember if her letters were pointy.

I will say this: Many wonderful people have drifted into my life and improved it in nice, round ways. Life is amazing that way.

Thanks for reading. -Connie Kuntz (round and sharp letters)

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