His Name Is Al

We named him Alexander.  Somewhat on a whim.  We'd held the name "Alexis" in reserve for a potential daughter, but - unable to agree on the daily name of "Alex" or "Lexi" - decided we'd be just as happy naming our newly identified son "Alex."

The ensuing conversation went something like this: "Well, as long as we're going to name him 'Alex,' we might as well name him 'Alexander," which is Kirk's middle name.

Sidenote: We recently discovered that "Alexander Fife" is quite the family name.  Kirk knew his middle name came from a great-grandfather, but he didn't know that there was an Alexander Fife in nearly every generation dating all the way back to the 1600's (which was as far as we were able to trace it on the LDS church history site, FamilySearch).

So we named him "Alexander" just because and with every intention to call him "Alex."

But we don't.  We call him Al.  We've recently discussed how much that nickname, dutifully credited to his Aunt Marie, seems to have stuck.  We rarely bother with the second syllable, but not out of laziness, and not with a nickname-ish quality.

I think his name is Al.

I could never have set out to name him Al.  I mean, let's be honest.  Al is a lumberjack name.  Or... well, it's the name of this guy...  And, though I loved Home Improvement as much as the next child of the 80's, I could never have set out to name him Al.

But Al he is.  So much so that I'm thinking of asking his Kindergarten teachers to please call him Al.  Better than having to be Alex F. his whole life, thanks to parents who unabashedly bestowed upon him a traditionally top 10 boys name, right?  

But am I okay with that?
A quick Google search for famous Al's turned up:

1. Capone    2. Franken     3. Gore        4. Green         5. Hirschfeld

6. Jolson       7. Pacino       8. Roker      9. Sharpton    10. Yankovic

Interesting company, to be sure.  Al Fife.  Six little letters to convey such a huge personality.

But as I sit here, listening to Grandma Casdorph help him stay focused through their game of Spiderman Sorry, I frequently hear, "It's your turn, Al," and - like it or not...

I think his name is Al.