Nicknames

First of all...thanks to Amy and Denise for your advice on posting pictures.



Secondly...Denise, you know darn well I'm not into theft. They are so my kids!! I realize that I only remember tiny Jonathon and can never recall all the names of your kids (so sorry), but I do expect you to always recognize my children, despite the fact that you've seen them very rarely and have not met them all.



And now, the reason I have come to Japanski's Room tonight....

...I work with a woman named Terri. I also have a sister Terri. Every time I work with Terri or see her at work (she works in two departments of our store, so I often see her when she is in floral and I am in the deli), I want to call her Terri-bo-berri. This is a nickname for sister Terri. Workplace Terri would not know where that was coming from, except possibly to assume that I was attempting to sing The Name Game (author unknown or I would credit said person herein---this disclaimer has been brought to you today by a huge fan of fictional attorney Eli Stone).

.....As I pondered on this thought while breading chicken at the deli today, I realized that I must just automatically want to grant nicknames to those I hang around with. I decided that it must stem from my childhood, when Dad had nicknames for all of the kids. Actually, I seem to recall nicknames for only the girls. It must be a daddy-daughter thing. Leanne was Monk, which I believe is a shortened version of an animal and not a religious title. I was Japanski or Fancy Pants, two nicknames which evolved from the fact that I used to wear pants that were covered with bright flowers, Brady Bunch style. Terri was Pear Bear, which I think came from Rick, and I recall that Terri-bo-berri was a nickname she didn't like at all. Funny, that's the name that acted as a catalyst for this particular blogisode. Amy, for some inexplicable reason, was Bum. I think Leanne was also Bum sometimes.

.....I have always loved my nickname. It made me feel unique and loved and special. So I am surprised when other folks don't respond to my nicknames with good favor. Terri's youngest (sister Terri, not workplace Terri), Lars, reminded me of Charlie Brown when he was quite little. I called him Charlie Brown for a time, until one day Lars responded to said handle by yelling, "I'm not Charlie Brown!! I'm Larsy!!!" Message received. No nickname for him. But I still do nicknames. Becca Boo. Lizabelle. Larry, whose real name is James. Sunshine. Buster.



So if you ever hear me refer to you in a creative way, please take it as a token of affection. That's what it is.