Hmm…
I am having the hardest time coming up with a name for her. Several have passed through my mind and I cannot settle on one, so we are going to have a discussion and we will see what happens at the end of this post.
Sunflowers remind me of her. Partly because her favorite color was yellow at one time. And partly because, when she smiles, her face is luminous. But, sometimes she can be grumpy, so calling her Sunshine may not be an option.
The character from Steel Magnolias, “Ouizer”, reminds me of her. But, she’s way cuter than that and usually a little nicer. Though, I can definitely see her saying, “I do not see plays because I can nap at home for free. And I don't see movies 'cause they're trash, and they got nothin' but naked people in 'em! And I don't read books, 'cause if they're any good, they're gonna make 'em into a miniseries.”, in her old age.
She also has an affinity for my father and I named him Drummond…so…Ouizer is out.
She could swim at a very early age. I remember holding her in the pool and as long as you counted to three, she could go under the water with you at like 2 years old. She was on swim team when she got older. So, I thought about calling her Esther. You know, for Esther Williams, the bathing beauty of the 40s.
But Esther sounds too old ladyish for her.
You know, what she really is, though, besides perfect, and beautiful with a sunny smile, and blunt, and smart, is loyal. She is fiercely loyal. If you have the ability to capture her heart and her respect, then you have a friend for life.
I have no idea what her criteria is for liking someone, but she has it. And if you pass the test, you are probably a truly amazing person. So, I consider it an honor to be her favorite person…just kidding.
(She and Wendy were each others favorite people. They united against me, Maria, and Roxi many times. We were cool and they couldn’t take it.)
So, we shall call her Lela. It is French, meaning “loyal”.
(I am 75% sure she hates the name and hates that it is French.)