"Takin' Time Out"

1. A descriptive name added to or replacing the actual name of a person, place, or thing.

2. A familiar or shortened form of a proper name.

 

 

You may be asking why in the world would you want to blog about “Nicknames”.  I wondered that myself when I began to chuckle inside…this past week I had the privilege of seeing a dear friend I hadn’t seen in quite a while.  In fact we went to a Chonda Pierce, “Girl Talk” concert Sunday night, which made me laugh.  Laughter is the best medicine after a stressful week.  Oh yes, I am a bit distracted back to “Nicknames”…well I commented on how cute her new car was and she said, “thank you I named it Critter!” when I began to think about it, yes it sorta did look like a critter…little flat hatch back and crimson red color. She had tied a nylon witch to the front for the month of October, so when we were flying down the road it appeared we had hit the poor thing…she is so fun and full of life!  It’s great to have those  friendships and “Takin Timeout” for an evening in comedy!  The concert was terrific and I got to see another dear friend Tina with a few friends from her church which made it a super duper night!

 

Well that brought back a flash back Thursday with some dear friends from High School who named their VW bugs.  Debbie had a light blue bug with one green fender and a tan rear end she called her “Betsy”, Susan’s was dark blue and she named it “Lulu” and Danette’s was also light blue but she called him “Fred”.  Not sure how they figured out the gender of a car but nevertheless it was sooo much fun cramming ourselves into them, draggin main and honking our horns.  Those girls loved their cars…I loved mine too but I never got around to naming my little red mustang.  Speaking of VW Bugs, how many of you played the slug bug game growing up?  My kiddo’s loved that game when riding in the car.  That was the only time I allowed them to hit one another without getting into trouble. 

So thinking about friends who actually named their car, I decided this week to take a quick poll on Facebook to see how many still name their cars and this is what I found out…

 

Shaylee’s sister Danielle had a car named Tinker Bell.  Shana named hers Chloe; Rhonda named her yellow hummer after her grandmother, Reba May (that’s very Southern); Pam named her red truck, Big Red; Cathy has a Greta; Janis has a Gracie; Judi’s son named his truck Frog and her daughter named her truck Silver; Tammy has Little Grey; Staci has Lilly; my Mom had a friend who had a Lincoln and they named it Abe; Donna’s dad had a pickup named Old Goldie and she has a standard transmission pickup that she calls, Shifty.  She also stated Shifty was not her friend…Lol!  Fae has a friend with a Thunderbird named Lightning Chick and Sandy brought back more memories of her Daddy’s lumber yard, she drives an old white pick-up named Everett (after Everett-Moore) her husband drives a car named Gioda and they just sold their hatchback with a hula dancer on the dashboard they had named, Bufet.  Brenda’s husband named his little Kia-The Obamamobile, (lol) Sheri calls her little Honda, Chitty Chitty, and Irene calls her Mercedes “Why Not!” (Sooo fitting)   Amazing how many friends name their cars and how they fit their personality or the make and model of the vehicle.  Now I am on a mission to figure out what to name my second precious Tahoe…hmmm any suggestions?  The last one I had was “Ole Faithful!” I put allot of miles on my vehicle, I get a bit attached and don’t like to trade very often.

 

“Nicknames”, oh how we use them- some we state to their face and others behind their back…now admit it….yes you are guilty I know it! Those inside voices do come out sometimes, we are all human!!

 

It’s funny if someone refers to so in so by a “Nickname” that you had never met and then you finally meet them you end up referring to them as that name.  For instance my husband’s side of the family we had Aunt Big Fairy (who was really little) and Aunt Little Fairy (who was really big) of which I never figured out except maybe their age had something to do with it.  But why would you want to be called fairy in the first place, ok who am I to judge that was a long time ago.  Then there was Little Joe who I met shortly after we married and I said oh you are, “Little Joe” and he said no mam my name is just “Joe”.  I was so embarrassed!   

 

My best friend Sheri uses “Nicknames” too.  Her son since the day he was born is her little “pootie”, her hubby is “Dooley”, and they call her mom “Peachy”.   We are so close I find myself calling them by their “Nickname” at times too.  Except “Pootie” is 17, I guess I better stop.  However, he will always be his mamma’s “Little Pootie”.

 

My cousin Shaylee was Shaybay and as she got older her friends call her Shay Bop.  My girls called their little brother “Bubba” and Heather was Feather and Rachel, Rachee.  After a ski trip to Taos, Uncle Hill’s family ended up calling my son Stephen, who was just a little tike, Bullet Booth as he flew down the slopes on a trail call “headin home, I don’t think he really knew how to stop (lol).  Both kids ended up being called “Boothy” through school.  We call Tatum Grace, Tator Tot and Liam – Tank. 

But one of my favorites is my sister, her name is Charmaine and in High School they would tease my brother-in-law not to squeeze the “Charmin” yes after Charmin Toilet Paper and Mr. Whipple…how many of you remember him and those silly commercials?

Grandparents now have very different names than the traditional Grandma Pansy, Grandpa Jack, Grandma Nellie and Grandpa Charlie that I grew up with.  My niece was the first born and she couldn’t say Grandma Charlene or Grandpa Jim to go with tradition.  She blurted out “Mow” and “Ba Jim” so those stuck.  The first born grandchild somehow sets the pace for others to follow.  My cousin is called “tutu”.  When my husband found out he was going to be a grandparent he was so adamant and said now I am going to be “Granddad” no pawpaw, peepee, or poopoo I am “Granddad”!  Tatum couldn’t say Granddad she said BaPa and his heart melted and yes it stuck so we are Gigi and Bapa! Lol…funny how sweet little blessing from heaven changes your whole perspective!

 

Somehow I have had several “Nickname” through the years in High School I was, Tuna Fish shortened to Tuner and my initials were TSP so I was also a Teaspoon and when I got married my initials became TB so I  became a Tablespoon.  I had a co-worker that called me T-Bird…and as I mentioned my grandkids call me “GiGi”.  But my favorite is when my hubby calls me “Baby Girl”.  It makes me feel so young and loved!  I will always be his “Baby Girl!”

 

As I wrap up I want to share during this past week I have really reflected on a passage in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

 

1  There is a time for everything,

     and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2     a time to be born and a time to die,

    a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3     a time to kill and a time to heal,

    a time to tear down and a time to build,

4     a time to weep and a time to laugh,

    a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6     a time to search and a time to give up,

    a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7     a time to tear and a time to mend,

    a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8     a time to love and a time to hate,

    a time for war and a time for peace.

 

This passage reminds me of how short life really is, we need to embrace each and every day, laugh allot, don’t sweat the small stuff, tell those we love how much and not to have any regrets.  Things do not always go smoothly, in fact I find the harder or more difficult times are the more I lean on my Lord and Savior.  He is my rock and my true salvation.  This country is facing some very difficult times and the decisions made today have a direct effect on the future of our children and grandchildren.  At times I feel these situations are totally out of our control.  But I can pray for our leaders and ask each of you to do the same. 

 

I hope this blog made you laugh a little, brought back some great memories of your family and friends “Nickname” or car names and as you are “Takin Time Out” this week…take a deep breath, relax those shoulders and let’s count our blessings!  Until next time….

QUOTES:  “Nicknames stick to people, and the most ridiculous are the most adhesive.”  Thomas Chandler Haliburton

“When you use someones nickname so much that you almost forget their real name” author unknown