We are expecting our child any minute now and we are still having troubles coming up with a name. Every time we think of a good name we have to consider the possible nicknames. As we all know, there is a tendency for that type of thing in this county. In fact, I know more people by their nicknames than I do their actual names.
Our official due date is the 7th of December, which is Pearl Harbor Day. My grandparents who are both deceased, eloped on December 7, 1941 when they found out my grandfather was going to be shipped overseas. To elope in 1941 was pretty unique, but they had already planned to be married at a later date and wanted to make it happen before he was sent off to war. I thought it would be nice to name our child after my grandfather. His name was John Christianson. I also like the idea of naming him after my father, Robert, who passed away a few years ago from cancer. That would make our son’s name John Robert Christianson.
JR or Jr. are pretty safe nicknames even though my father-in-law thinks it sounds too Republican.
If we happen to have a girl, Rachelle has some names picked out as well. I have a little input on a girl’s name as well, but mostly we decided that if it was a girl she could pick the name and vice-versa.
I think we are going to just wait until we see the little thing before completely deciding. There have been a lot of suggestions for names, but so far none of them seem to be the right one. There are countless web sites and books dedicated to picking out names and they even tell you the meanings of most of them so it will give us something to do while sitting in the hospital.
On a different note, the Trail has been pretty darn quiet lately. On my drive to work every morning I typically see more animals than cars. The cars that do pass by are usually someone I know. That is a sure sign that you live in a small town.
I cherish the quieter months up here and right now is certainly one of them. The only company we get is an over-fed Whisky Jack that is beginning to look like a softball with wings. I am surprised it is still able to take flight.
I have not ventured out onto the ice anywhere yet, but a friend of mine sent me some photos of Devils Track last weekend. She chiseled through a few inches of ice. She was not very far from open water but there was enough ice to walk on. Fishing was not any good but I will have to give her credit for wetting a line before me this season.
If everything goes as planned, I will be a father by the time I write next week’s article. Rachelle and I are very excited and cannot wait for the little one to join us. I will be sure to let you know the name we finally decide on, and you can keep any nicknames to yourself!
Cory Christianson, a graduate
of the University of Iowa, has
worked as a fishing guide on
the Gunflint Trail since 2000. If
you have any fishing reports or
stories to share, send an email
to: christiansoncory@hotmail.
com or call 218-388-0315.
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