Jack and Katrina's Place

A few folks have asked us where we came up with the name Guy? It is not a family name on either side and far from the top of any recent top 50 names list. It was a boys name we both agreed on very early. We came up with lots more but none really appealed, we kept coming back to Guy. One of the criteria for a boys name was that it should be short and 'direct'. In effect it should be easy to call out in a busy pub, and 'Sebastian' , one of Katrina's early favourites, just failed that test. Mind you my earlier suggestion of 'Nathanial' was just about as bad but at least he could've been 'Nathan or Nate' as in "Nate,,mate, get us a speights!" (Yes Tony, it was also inspired by Nathaniel Herreshoff, who I've always thought was a groovy name for an old sea dog.) Katrina and I were both fortunate to know separate 'Guys' during our formative years, both of whom were respected and successful men, so that contributed a lot.

The other thing I like about Guy as a name is it could go either way, (so to speak). In case you thought the pub ordering criteria was a bit stereotypical we also considered what would happen if he decides to become a ballet dancer or alternative playwright. I think in 20 years he could be "Guy Curry Stanton, Scupltor of Coromandel' just as easily as,,, " here come's Big Guy in the corner for another Try!" Actually it's a secret fear of Katrina and I that he will grow into a sports nut, as neither of us can name more than two (current) All Blacks, (Tana just resigned right?) So there would be a certain irony in spending our Saturdays on the sidelines of soggy paddocks and interminable sports bars, but I guess we would do it gladly!

While we are talking names, Douglas was my middle name and my father's middle name and before that it was the name of my Gran's Uncle who was killed in the 1st World War. Thus it has since been the middle name of the eldest son of the eldest son of the eldest son.

Last names were more problematic. I am not a fan of the current fashion for hyphenated names, mostly as I feel it's just 'unsustainable' But Katrina felt very strongly she wanted to Guy to be clearly a descendent of the Currys. Katrina had a point in that the Stanton Clan has spread far and wide (My father was one of 7) while the Currys (with a y) are much fewer. So after considerable thought Guy has two last names, Curry Stanton. I was searching for a precedent for this the other day, when our friend Margaret Vos sent us a beautiful book of poems, "The Favourite Poems of Jacquline Kennedy Onassis" For the same reasons I guess she wanted to take on the name of her 2nd Husband while preserving the link with the Kennedys. If it was good enough for the Mrs Onnassis, it will do us.

There is a symmetry in the Kennedy example too, As I have been asked many times how I got to be 'Jack' short for John (my legal name) Although he never said for sure, my father was a great admirer of John F.Kennedy through the late 60's and I suspect that was on his mind in 1971. More practically I see the 'prefix' Curry coming in handy in future gatherings of the whanau, when it might be handy to be able to call out, "Curry Stantons,, get in the car "

So there you go, now you can look at the pictures... CU Jack