Nicknames

Hello Beautiful People! “Nicknames are fond names, we do not give them to people we dislike.” ~Edna Ferber

I’ve had many nicknames in my life. I’ve loved most of them. I love when someone knows you well enough to call you something that may be an inside joke between you two or a group of friends. That thing that brings you closer because of something you did or something that reminds you of them. My stepdad called me Tinker… it was short for Tinkerbell. I loved watching the Sunday night Disney movies, and when Tinkerbell would come out I would pretend to be her. I, to this day, relate to that little fairy in so many ways, and when I see her I think of him. My best friends called me Ree, and they still do. I got that name in the 7th grade. There was Bean, Bon Bon, Goober, and me, Ree (picture made by Goober). However, Goober, to me, was Fish. Since the day I met her, everything she saw and disliked she would say, “Ew Fish,” so when it was just us I would call her Fish. My best friend’s mom called me Lady Bug. That’s what she called her girls. I loved that she made me one of her girls too. In High School my nickname was Peaches. That nickname has stuck with my West Coast friends. Even now, I’m not sure anyone really remembers my real name. If I see anyone from that time they still call me Peaches, and I love it. My husband has a few nicknames for me. First thing in the morning I’m usually awoken by, “Good morning my beautiful Bride,” but through life I am “Babe.” I loved when these people would say my nickname. To me it means we were close, we had connection, we have history.

Not all nicknames have been things I wanted to be called. I was very thin when I was younger, and very self conscious about it, so if someone called me String Bean or Olive Oil, my heart would hurt. I would always laugh it off and pretend to be fine. I hated any time I would hear my actual name. I always felt like I was in trouble. My mom’s side of the family mostly call me Angela, my middle name. If I heard María from anyone as a child, a knot would form in my stomach because I knew I was in trouble. Heaven forbid If I got the María Angela, I was really in trouble. (Don’t worry, I’ve worked through that in therapy.) I personally would never call someone a nickname they didn’t like. When meeting someone for the first time, if I introduced to them as, “This is Bill but we all call him Tiny,” I’m going to ask if it’s ok that I call them Tiny or do they prefer Bill.

There was no real reason for this topic except I was thinking about names I’ve given people. I love a good last name that can be a nickname. I have friend I only call by her last name. I have nicknames for my children and grandchildren. Any nickname to me is in love. I love the memories that flood back when I hear someone use that name. I remember the laughs we had and the tears we cried, the “thank you for being there,” because nicknames come with history. Do you have a nickname that brings a smile to your face? Please let me know. To those who will ask what I call Matt… Well my response to his good morning is, “Good morning my handsome Hubby.” I have a few nicknames for him, but he is usually Babe also. I do call him Baby Cakes a lot, and Hagberg (our last name) if I am trying to get his attention. I think my favorite name I have ever been called is mom. that was until I was called Gigi. Matt would say his favorite name is Pop. Thinking about all these names has put a smile on my face. I hope that whatever name you go by it will put a smile on your face as you think about it and it always leads you back to Finding The Good In Your Life.