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| Photo credit: Enokson via photopin cc |
I don't know what got me thinking about nicknames, but the more I thought about the various monikers that have either been bestowed on me by others or earned by me through multifarious measures, each represents my Real Reality at some point in my life. Thinking about these names and their origins provided a lovely stroll down memory lane. Enjoy!
Mary Had a Little Lamb/Mary, Mary Quite Contrary: While not really nicknames, these nursery rhymes pop up randomly throughout my life at the mention of my name. It still happens on occasion, which is a bit unsettling considering the words usually ooze from the lips of grown men.
Mary Magdalene: My Uncle Merle called me by this name throughout my childhood. The way he said it, with a twinkle in his eyes, let me know it was a good nickname.
Mari With An Eye: Way (WAY) back when, when I was young, single and carefree, my also-fresh-from-college work colleagues attached this nickname to me. Apparently, it was a way for everyone to delineate between another group member who spelled her name with a "Y" and me. The name stuck, as all nicknames worth their salt should.
Massive Head Wound Mari: This one I earned the hard and dangerous way. Luckily, it only stuck for the duration of a weekend camping/float trip full of wild and crazy single people (same group that labeled me "Mari With an Eye"). The canoe I was in tipped, and the river current pulled me underwater. As I went under, I hit my head on a low-water, concrete bridge. Um ... ow. Obviously, and thankfully, all turned out OK.
Mari Moose: This one came about because I used to collect anything moose-related. I'm over it now, but the name still sticks among a certain group of people (yep, the aforementioned singles). It's fun to watch the reactions on people's faces when one of my old buddies yells, "Hey! Moose!" and a five-foot-tall, 107 lb woman responds. Not moose material.
Corndog: My friend, Diane the Diva, calls me this. My maiden name is Cornell and, well, somehow she turned that into Corndog. Which I'm OK with because I love me a good corndog.
What about you? I'd love to hear your nicknames and how they came about! Please share in the comments!
Wherever you are, whatever you're doing ... Keep It Real.
When I read the title of your blog post, my first thought was "Corndog!" :-)
ReplyDeleteWith the name "Patti" I have been called Peppermint Patty, Hamburger Patty (my least favorite!), and Patty-Cake. However, my favorite was Pitsy Patsy. A former neighbor who means a lot to me and is now in his 90's started calling me that when I was in grade school. I saw him this past July when we were in KC and the first thing he said was "Pitsy!"
I love that story! How great that you have maintained that relationship with your former neighbor. Doesn't it just make you feel warm inside when someone knows you that well? Thanks for reading!
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