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Wednesday, March 18, 2009
A Man of Few Words, But a Man With Many Names
My husband Pete was a man of few words. He was quiet and a little bashful. I' m chatty and a bit crazy! They say opposites attract and I think that's true. Well, as you know I have posted some things about my hubby Pete, but that's not his real name. I was introduced to him through a friend of mine that I worked with back in 1985. Pete was a friend of her husbands, she thought Pete was cute, but warned me that he was really quiet especially around people that he didn't know. He was pretty darn cute and a really nice guy but he was quiet and shy. It was like pulling teeth to get him to say much. That got better overtime, but he still wasn't a big talker in big crowds of people he didn't know, he wasn't one to start a conversation with a stranger. Let me explain the man of many names. Pete, not his real name, but that is what I called him. His name is James. Since I was introduced to him and all his friends called him Pete, that is what I called him. So my family and most folks I knew called him Pete. His family and everyone at his workplace knew him as Jim. I dated him for four years before we got married and it was to hard to start calling him Jim. I did however call him Jim on occasion and James if I really wanted his attention. I have confused lots of people when I would refer to him as Pete and then once in a while I would say Jim. People would give me a strange look, like perhaps I had more than one man in my life. The doctor called him Jim, his nurse called him Pete. My poor husband had to answer to lots of names. When he was in the hospital before he passed, I had called my Pastor and told him that they had to put Jim on a ventilator, he was coming to pray with us. My Pastor knew him as Jim. The next time I called my Pastor and told him that we were going to take Pete off the ventilator as soon as all of us had gathered, as the Pastor was coming to be with us when that happened. I was an emotional mess at that time. The Pastor said well ok, but who is Pete? I bet he thought I was either totally gone or I had two men in my life. I think it is funny now, I think back and remember he sounded so puzzled, like he didn't know what to say. Of course I had to give a brief explanation on who Pete was. I think he breathed a sigh of relief!
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27 comments:
Marla
Strange - but I had to laugh. Pete, Jim, James, but all the same guy who stold your heart. Great story.
That line about, "really quiet especially around people that he didn't know" a lot of really, really smart people are like that. I bet Pete, James, and Jim were one of them.
Ralph
Pete/Jim was loved and still is by you. I can feel it there, and see his soul smiling as he reads this post
Hi Marla, I know you never called him 'late for dinner.' That works okay for the person being called, did Pete ever tell you that?
You knew my Dad? He was Vernon, Jim, and first name was Charles. Grandpa was also Charles/Charley so they called Dad Jim. Then I came along, I was Little Jim or Jimmy.
Thanks for sharing that with us about Pete. I appreciate it and know it must be hard for you sometimes to write about your 'Jim.'
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You made me laugh at that one and I feel like I can't say why.
That was a loving and lovely tribute to your man of many names.
Thank you for sharing your life with Pete, Jim, James.
Love and hugs ~ FlowerLady
Hi Marla, that cleared a lot of things up for some people. Some humorous things here and good memories. I saw and read about the pregnancy. You sure have changed.
Looking forward to seeing you later today. c
This is a healing post. I am sure that Jim/Pete is smiling somewhere at this and glad to see that you can laugh at yourself.
This is such a sweet/cute story. I love that little incident with the Pastor. Classic. I can see you are the wild one. Don't ever lose that spunk! ;)
Marla,
What a delightful post. I'm sure you had a few people raising their eyebrows. And that poor Pastor. I can understand his confusion.
I enjoyed hearing about your Pete.
Blessings,
Mary
This is another great story! That made me smile because my adopted daughters have had a small selection of names throughout their lives and that has called confusion. My father has 2 different names and my father in law changed his first name and is known by his second name. It all gets very confusing sometimes.
That made me laugh Marla. I can just imagine your poor pastor not knowing what to say or how to deal with that situation. :)
I didn't know him as Jim or James he was always Pete to me.
My spouse also has two names and it confuses many. As a child and to his family, he went by his middle name. Adult years and Navy used his first name and I met him by his first name. Sometimes I feel like it makes his family angry for me to call him First Name,as if I do it to annoy them. Did Pete ever ask you to call him Pete as opposed to Jim?
As to confusing names - My name is Mary Sue, which is what I was called in hi school. We had a Mary Ann and Mary Lu so we all had our middle names used. My family calls me Suzie which I have shortend to Sue in later years. Doctors call me Mary since that is what is on my insurance card. Can get confusing when the dentist calls for Mary and I answer the phone "This is Sue."
That's an interesting post.
He must have found you interesting to talk to Marla.
Nice to be able to look back and laugh even throught the sad times.
Pete, James, Jim,,,,whatever his name is, he sounds like a wonderful man.... When I first met my husband he as quiet and shy, but now he is very outgoing...
Marla, you've weaved these names into a wonderful story. Thanx for sharing your memories with us all!
Hey Marla:
Sounds like you and I had the same husband. It's the quiet ones who get to meet Jesus first, I guess!
My Bob - was 'Bob' to everyone but me. His name was Robert so I decided later in life to call him 'Rob'! Only I was allowed to do that.
I'm glad that Edie connected us and that you touched base with me today on my blog.
I spoke at a grief group last Thursday and there was another women who lost her husband in a terrible accident. She was married to him for 36 years [she beat my 34 years]. She is still grieving.
I spoke about connecting the past [before their home-going] - to the future. There seems to be a puzzle piece or two missing - until those middle chapters are written down.
Writing what you posted here - really helps - so the puzzle [gap] can once again, connect you to your own future.
With God's help, as hard as it is, girlfriend, keep moving FORWARD!
May the LORD bless you!
Looking UPward and Choosing JOY,
Stephanie
[Time to FLY]
"....I think it's funny now..."
Do I hear a bit of healing going on there?
I'll bet you have tons of wonderful memories! And to be able to smile about them is definitely God healing you.
I really think blogging out things is so helpful. I'm glad you are here.
Thanks for the comment but I am not sure which post you were talking about.
Hi Marla!
No my grandaughters don't live with me. And no you're not being nosey. LOL. I watch them now that my daughter is working and I take them to church almost every Sunday so they do spend a lot of time with me. I love them but love when they leave too sometimes. LOL!
Hi Marla! I'm Arlington Tea Party. I was signed in on my other blog and didn't realize it. :)
Wonderful memories of your dear husband! I'll bet your pastor was glad to know it was the same man!! Whew!!! Haha!!
Hello Marla I am praying for you right now...knowing God has your heart in His hands. He will provide, He will take care of His own!!! He loves you and thinks you are amazing!
Thank you for blessing me and visiting my site and your prayers, God is hearing them and responding!
We had an old uncle like Pete-Jim-James. He had a bunch of names, which the law referred to as "aliases." ;)
Great stories, Marla! I'll always remember him as Pete.
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