Remy the Raindeer

When my family found out that there was new kid on the way, my mom and I went temporarily insane at the Babies 'R' Us in Richmond, Virginia. We bought just about everything that wasn't bolted down, including this - a monkey costume. I thought it would be a perfect Halloween costume for my soon-to-exist nephew since his pre-birth nickname was "Monkey Boy".

I don't remember how or why Remy got stuck with the nickname "Monkey Boy". Sue and Pascal got pretty annoyed with it after a while, but they refused to tell us his name, so we told them to suck it and went on calling him Monkey Boy (at least to each other) until the day he was born.

What I did not realize at the time was that Remy's monkey costume was actually a reindeer costume. I had been looking forward to him being dressed as a monkey for months and months! I can't believe I thought it was a monkey. The antlers should have been a dead give away. But in my defense, I wasn't really thinking straight. I did go temporary insane.

I think the reindeer costume worked out just fine. In fact, I like it better - "Remy the Reindeer" - good alliteration.

Funny story: I take 100% accidental credit for naming him Remy...

For Mothers Day this year, I sent Sue a pre-mother's day card that said...

"Yo Mom, Hey! It's me, Monkey Boy! I'm writing to you from the future like in that movie 'The Lake House' with Keanu Reeves! Anyway thanks for having me and I'll see you soon. Love, Monkey Boy. PS. The future is great."

I put the card in an envelope, and, without thinking about it, I picked a stamp from my Pixar-themed book of stamps. The stamp I chose? "Ratatoille". The name of the main character in "Ratatoille"? Remy! The name Remy was already on their short list, but they took this as confirmation.

So basically what I'm trying to say is there are no accidents. Monkey costumes, reindeer costumes, Keanu Reeves... Things that appear to be an accident actually spring from the deepest source of destiny. This happens all the time! What I'm trying to say is "The Lake House" was a pretty good movie. What I'm trying to say is I've never actually seen "The Lake House" but Sandra Bullock is in it and they just named a hurricane after her, so you know, think about that.

EDIT: from Sue: (Mom) returned the monkey costume, and then I told her that the costume was ok and she should send it, and then she bought the reindeer one by accident, and then I wrote this long and boring explanation.