Stories from the Stringam Family Ranches of Southern Alberta

From the 50s and 60s to today . . .



Friday, May 3, 2013

Name Game



Mom and Dad, with Pimple Pants, Red, Jerry and Bert
Parents put a lot of thought and even prayer into the naming of their offspring.
Why, then, do they go to such lengths to never use those names?
My name is Diane. Mom loved that name, so, when I made my appearance, she was happy I was a girl. Now she could use it.
Let's face it, 'Diane' for a boy just doesn't fit quite as well. But that's another story.
As a second name, she chose Louise, after my Aunt Louise. A really, really sweet lady.
So, Diane Louise.
Works for me.
I called myself Tony. I'm not sure why.
My Mom's working name for me, however, was 'Pixie'.
?????
Ocassionally, she would vary it.
“Oh, here's my little Pixie-Girl.”
Or, “What do you want, Sweet-Little-Pixie?”
I think it might have had something to do with my size.
Okay I know that, looking at me now, one would find this hard to believe, but, at one time, I was under height. And definitely under-weight.
Those were the days.
Sigh.
Moving on . . .
Later, when I was nine, I got my hair cut. Really short.
I loved it.
So did my Dad.
He changed my name to 'Mike'. I'm almost sure it had nothing to do with our dog. He of the same name.
Mom was horrified. “Mark! She has a perfectly good name. Use it!”
I know he was as bewildered as me. Ummm . . . which name? Diane? Louise? Pixie? Tony?
Are you beginning to see why I'm such a confused person?
So, 'Lou' I became.
????? again.
Mom retaliated by calling me, 'Diane'. For the first time in my life.
Then, my brother, George, got into the game.
His name for me was Bert.
Because.
Coming from someone whom Dad called 'Dard', and Jerry called 'Pimple Pants', I wasn't worried.
Rusty, or Chris as she had been christened, had no opinion.
Neither did Blair . . . er, 'Bare Blue', or 'The Great Root Blair'. Of couse he was only two, so he could be excused.
And Anita was a baby. She was 'Sweetheart' or 'Sister'. One day to be known as 'Nutty Nita'.
Jerome got off easy.
Actually, that's a story in itself.
He was always, 'Jerry' to everyone. Except when Mom got angry.
Then, he became Jerome Allen, or worse, Jerome Allen Stringam.
All the 'angry' names, as they are truly known.
But I've wandered from the point.
Which was me.
And my names.
So, I've been through Diane, Louise, Tony, Pixie, Mike, Lou and Bert.
Now, my Honeybunny (don't ask) calls me, Honey. And my kids call me Mom.
Or grandma.
Dad still calls me Lou.
I'm so blessed.

10 comments:

  1. What's that hanging down by your moms side? Looks like a dishcloth...the housewifes flag. I know what you mean about the names...I am Delores Elaine. I got Lorrie, Lorus and Tommy and sometimes, as you mentioned, the full quota of 'angry names'. As they say, 'a rose by any other name' etc etc etc. Just don't call me 'too late for dinner'.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Geez, how do you keep up? Does each name indicate a different emotion? I have always called my son by his first and middle names: Noah James. When I get upset with him now, I have to raise my voice because using two names means nothing to him. We chose Noah because we wanted to make sure he didn't have a name that could be shortened.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Like the seasons, the name changed! :)
      My sister named her son Owen, because she didn't think anyone would be able to find anything silly that rhymed with it. At his baby shower, someone asked if 'Owen's Blowin'?' Argh!

      Delete
  3. I forgot about Bert. I always thought Dad called you Louie.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How could you forget about Bert?! And he did call me Louie. Add that one to the list . . .

      Delete
  4. We called my son the boo for the longest time, then just boo, then boobie (in know) then izze boo, now mostly izze or iz (his name is Isaiah) however no one but my husband or I can call him any of those names or he gets....pissed!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Heehee! Names are certainly . . . personal, aren't they?

      Delete
  5. It's a wonder you didn't have an identity crisis! :)

    ReplyDelete

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