Nicknames

Do you have a nickname, or pet name? I was watching Top Gun and they all have cool names:  Maverick, IceMan, Hollywood, Slider and even Goose. 

Nicknames are usually given because something in life occurred.  You might hear a kid called Stinky, but there are others like Radar or Hawkeye.

For me, I wasn't called a nick name that I can remember until I was working full time at Clarklift of San Jose; the men called me LuLu.  It was derived from the rock song Gimme Three Steps by Lynyrd Skynyrd who was dancing with Linda Lou.  I'm also known as ZonaGal in some places.  When I became a grandmother, I was Amma.  

The only nickname I hated, truly hated, is Dude.  That's what an ex husband called me.  I get nicknames or pet names, but I sure am NOT a Dude.  Which is exactly what I told him!! 

Back in the day, folks had "handles" because of CB radios.  Nowadays, with computer avatars, are they given nicknames?  I'm out of touch with the younger crowd.

Hopefully, if you have a nickname, I hope its one you like!!  As you get older, you may accumulate more!!

Nick Names

Why is it that some people can give you a nickname, or use a shortened version of your name, and it doesn't bother you.   And other people who try it, it's like nails on a chalkboard??

My co-worker likes to use the first syllable of my name, calls me Lin.  And frankly, to me, that's a little too intimate.  I had an ex who used to call me "dude" --- which I thought was amusing when we were just friends, but when the relationship progressed, it just didn't fit any longer!  I had a boss in the 70s who called me "Missy" -- and I didn't mind that either.  He was a good man, a great mentor and friend, and I was fine with the nickname.   (of course, he usually used it when I did something that went against his way of doing things ..... lol )

"Gimme Three Steps" is a song by southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd.  The song is memorable for its opening riff:

I was cutting the rug

Down at place called The Jug

With a girl named Linda Lou

When in walked a man

With a gun in his hand

And he was looking for you know who ...

Several people over the years have called me Linda Lou.  And most of them, I don't mind.  Anyone who is of an age and knows this song, well, they're OK people in my book!  *giggles*  

I would never dream of calling my co-worker by the first syllable of his name, and pray that I never call him "Elvis" although it's possible, because in my mind I've referred to him as "Elvis" over the years - not because he looks anything like him, but because he got all "fancy" and started matching the color of his shoes to the color of his eyeglasses.  (One day it was the white set, another day the royal blue set .... you see where that goes! ugh)

Maybe I'm being oversensitive.   I try to just ignore the whole thing when he speaks, but there are days .........   UGH