The Story of Smoochy

We really call each other Smoochy.


Have you ever known a couple who refer to each other by a disgustingly sweet pet name? Well, that’s us. It all started as a joke but over the years (holy shit time flies!) it has taken on a life of its own. It all started around Valentines Day 2005 when we were in the grocery store. Smoochy found this little book and bought it because it made him laugh so hard. I read it aloud on the way home and we giggled the whole way. It’s Happy Bunny: Love Bites mocks love and dating in a crude and delightful way, like only Happy Bunny can. Check out this review by The Gazette for a perfect synopsis. Anyway, Happy Bunny makes reference to a host of pet names. One of which being “Smoochy-Wootsy-Pootsy-Pie” or something similar. Thus the seeds of Smoochy were planted.



It wasn't long before we refereed to each other as Smoochy more often than our real names. We even stared calling our dogs Smoochies. At first it really annoyed everyone we came in contact with. Most people thought we were being syrupy, but really we were playing along in the sarcastic spirit of Happy Bunny. However, soon “Smoochy” truly became a term of endearment. Our neighbors and dear friends would ask, “How’s Smoochy doing?” Now sometimes, when our daughter calls for us we hear her little voice chime, "SMOOCHY!!!" 


When we were new, my Smoochy was a submarine officer. Before each patrol I (like most wives, girlfriends, and fiancés) would prepare a care package to send with my man to see him through the months without daylight. For Smoochy’s care package I had tee-shirts printed for us. His said “Smoochy” and mine read “I am with Smoochy.” I took a photo of myself in my shirt and wrapped it inside the package with his shirt. It was something to make him smile when he was having a not-so-great Navy day.



Since then we’ve worn our shirts together on far more occasions than I would ever have imagined. The best was the day after our wedding on our way to the honeymoon. (As seen to the left.) We showed up to the sail boat that would see us on a glorious seven-day cruise in our Smoochy shirts. Hence forth our shipmates knew us as the newlyweds, Smoochy and With Smoochy. 


Years and years have passed since we first coined our little pet-name. Since the beginning we have moved six times, bought two houses, had three dogs, eight different vehicles, and brought three children into the world. My husband and I have each grown into vastly different people from the twenty-somethings buying beer and calling it groceries one fateful Valentine's Day of years past. We may have changed but Smoochy has remained the same.  The bottom line is that Smoochy is for life.