The Name Game

One day in 2000 (according to imdb.com, though I could’ve sworn it was earlier) I was watching an episode of Law & Order: SVU with guest star Tracy Pollan (who I’ve been told on more than one occasion is my celebrity doppelganger.) Tracy was playing a crime victim named Harper Anderson and I don’t know why, but I was so struck by the name Harper that I immediately latched on to it and kept it quiet for years until my daughter was born.

I was so proud of myself because I had managed to “hide” this really cool, unique name from The World. In fact, when I told the nurses to put Harper’s name on her birth certificate, one of them exclaimed, “Thank god it’s not another Madison.” (My apologies to all the Madisons.)

My daughter is seven now, and it’s like suddenly I’m seeing Harpers everywhere. Even Posh and Becks named their new baby Harper.

But we did it first.

Harper, the Burnese Mountain Dog

On a completely tangential note…if you are a fan of Law & Order or pop culture in general, check out one of my favorite artists, Brandon Bird. Someday I’m going to get a Norton Defiant print because I really just need one in my life.