Bubbie, Baby Milo, and Six Cents: got to love a nickname - I do!!!

Do you ever wonder how get their nicknames? I must admit that I do. I also admit that I read the obits everyday - I know that sounds morbid - but I love to see how people lived their lives, but more so I love to see people's nicknames. There are always the "Bill" for William; "Patti" for Patricia; "Donnie" for Donald; "Ken" for Kenneth; "Cathy" for Catherine and I get those nicknames. The nicknames that have always confused me are "Peg" for Margaret; "Ted" for Edward; "Dick" for Richard - who thought of those - they don't even make sense?!?!?! If someone knows the history behind those - let me know - I would love to mark this off my list of things to periodically ponder. Now let's talk about great nicknames of the recently dearly departed that have appeared in the obits - may you rest in peace. Drum roll, please and in no particular order:

• Chicken
• Snookie
• Tweetie Bird
• Curly
• Butta
• Toots
• Chilie
• Light-Brown
• Beanie
• T-Bone
• S-Girl
• Topsy
• Double
• Dodo
• Topsy

My dad's best friend is called Fish (Gene) and my dad is Bollweevil or Uncle Piney (Don). My sister was called Grub until she figured out it was a worm that lived in the ground and threw a major temper tantrum. After that she was called Sonie (Sondra). My cousin dated a girl called Six Cents (Penny Ann Nickle). My step-sister is called Doone (Lori). Me????? Well, my dad has always called me Missy - and to this day still addresses envelopes and packages to Missy - I love it. The other nicknames that I have had are slightly more obvious - DP and DJ. And now my kids call me Flipper.

I know that most people shudder when you find out their nicknames - I am just the opposite - I find that giving or getting a nickname is sign of endearment and life would be just a bit less colorful without Boogs, Sqweeb, and The Boy. And for the record.....for about 6-12 months (in high school) I was anointed Zero by the little brother of my first boyfriend.