Gabriel and the Strange Annunciation: A Case of Rivalry with the In-Laws. . . . -- Mimetic Theory and Literary Study

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Date Posted: 20:40:45 05/04/08 Sun
Author: Hwaet!
Subject: Gabriel and the Strange Annunciation: A Case of Rivalry with the In-Laws. . . .

Funny anecdote of a potentially explosive case of rivalry going on right now on my wife's (Maggie's) side of the family: Once upon a time my wife's brother, Curtis, and their cousin Desiree were great friends who grew up together and went through twelve years of school together.

One day in high school, Curtis realized he was cool, and Desiree found out that she was not, and they went from friends to acquaintances. Rather than do anything to become cool, though, as a Girardian reader might expect, Desiree defers acting for about 15 years.

In that time, Curtis and Desiree each start families and pop out flocks of kids, although Desiree's firstborn (Jeremiah) is older than Curtis's. When Desiree visits her old stomping grounds with her freshly formed family for the first time, Maggie (my wife) and Jenny (my wife's sister) introduce themselves to Jeremiah as "Aunt Maggie" and "Aunt Jenny," to which Desiree replies, "Oh, we're not doing titles, it's just Maggie and Jenny." Okay, whatever. But when Curtis brings his freshly formed family over for the first time, Curtis says, "Hey, Abby (his daughter), there's Aunt Maggie and Aunt Jenny!" Once Desiree hears that Curtis's kids are addressing Maggie and Jenny by "titles," Desiree also starts making her kids do the same.

So now Curtis's wife is 8 months pregnant with a boy and Desiree is 7 months pregant with a girl. There's always a big commotion in this family about what the baby's names are going to be, and it's smart to publicize your unborn child's name well in advance so that everyone can "plan" based on that information (my wife, who is reading this as I write it, tells me this is normal). Notifying everyone about the baby's name is also meant as insurance that no one will accidentally name his or her kid the same name as yours.

Three months ago, Curtis and his wife announced that they are naming their son "Gabriel" (GAY-bree-el). Two weekends ago, Desiree left voicemails (voicemails!) on everyone's phones announcing her daughter's name.

Desiree has chosen to name her daughter "Gabrielle" (ga-bree-EL).

Things are tense.

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