Names

I'm not sure about this, but I believe that I have a below-average number of acquaintances and friends in general. This is partly because I tend to be shy around people I don't know, and also because other people drain my energy; I recharge best when I'm just by myself. That means I don't go out of my way to meet people or add people to my circle of friends just for the sake of doing so. To add to all this, I have a pretty low tolerance for bullshit and stupidity. The end result is that if you're in my phonebook, you're either family or I really really think quite highly of you.

Still, when a friend and co-worker of mine named Christina left our formerly mutual place of employment a few weeks back, it somehow triggered a realization that for a guy who doesn't have a particularly huge list of acquaintances and friends, certain names pop up with surprising regularity -- more than basic probability can explain, I think.

A quick count, for instance, shows that in my life (going back to high school, anyway), I have been been friends with, had crushes on, or dated at least six girls named Christine or Christina.

Similarly, I have been friends with or had crushes on at least five girls with "Jean"-variant names (Jean, Jeannie, Jeannette, etc. etc.) (Never got to date any of those. I suppose Jean's are a bit more discerning and have better taste in guys.)

I've also had four friends named Rich or Richard.

I don't have a point I'm trying to make here. Just noting an oddity.