There was a time when just about everyone I knew had a nickname. There’s something about using a “nom de nick” that seems to promote a closeness or linkage to me. The more nonsensical or outrageous the nickname the more permanently it will stick. Some are fond names and other are memorials to behavior or a memorable talent.
In my neighborhood the names Popeye, Lefty, The Pearl, Tom the Bomb, Wrangler, Broover the Mover are a few that quickly come to mind. Sometimes we use nicknames so much we almost forget the person’s proper name even though we have known them for years.
The dictionary defines a nickname as “a familiar or humorous name given to a person or thing instead of or as well as the real name.” they are often considered desirable, symbolizing a form of acceptance, but some cases can be a friendly form of ridicule….
Woman seem to have a cutesy nickname category.. with names like Babs, Lottie, Bea, Jinny, Winky, Kitty, Midge, Millie, Trixie. Alternately, it seems men have a similar not so cutesy set…. Bubba, Fatso, Ratso, Bags, Spanky, Bones, Tubs, Mad Dog, Waxy, Nutso, Wacko… There are some names I consider unfortunate ….as in the nickname for Richard is Dick.. and Frank is the nickname for Francis… Guys will always take the opportunity to ask a guy nicknamed Dick and Frank the age old questions…
Hey …”got and gum on ya D______”? or “got any mustard on ya Frank”?
Although these may sound juvenile they are a form of humor and endearment that seems to have gone along with other things deemed not PC. Regardless of what it says about my personal character… I admit I miss nicknames.
I’ve been called by various nicknames over my life… some stuck and some faded… Ferg, Ferg the Berg, Berga, Fergy, Cantab’s Choice…. One night while on a three day pass in Boston’s notorious Combat Zone with fellow Marine buddies I picked up nickname that has stuck to me like gorilla glue.
My goal for this nigh twas to show my buds around Boston. Before setting out on the tour I gave the crew a briefing of the do’s and don’t of downtown Bean Town.
- Stick together
- Be respectful and watch your language
- Don’t touch the talent
- Don’t be a chump. Do not under any circumstances, buy the dancers a drink…you’ll end up paying for Champagne … $50 a pop.
Our first stop was the Naked I Lounge… as we walked into the bar the one stage dancer pointed at me through her legs and mouthed the words…”I know you”. I looked around to see who she was pointing at and she again pointed directly at me and said again “I know you”.
My buddies were sufficiently impressed as was I … but I repeated over and over again that… I have no clue who she was. The dancer left the stage and we all settled up to the bar for a beer. The beer was cheap back then but not in the clubs… a Knickerbocker beer was $3 bucks. While the bartender was rustling up the beers and the guys were enjoying the show …up comes “Ms. I know you”…
Hey.. how ya been?… I haven’t seen you since High School.
Did we know each other in High School I asked?
Ya you played football right?
Yes I did… but I don’t remember you…
Oh I was shy back then…So you gonna buy me a drink?
Oh sure…I bet you want Champagne right???
No… I’ll just have a Kailua…
By the lady a Kailua Fergy…she a classmate …
Kailua that sounds OK… Waiter can I get a Kailua for the lady?
Here you go… That will be $16 dollars pal…
$16 Dollars??? Oh honey… you got me good. Right from the stage…even..
Over the laughter from my buddy’s…. My new nickname was born….
Hey $16 Dollar Man… You must be a football player!!!
I still love nicknames as a rule but some of them are a meant to be a painful reminder of times long past.
The Bow Legged Blogger 