Sunday, February 8, 2015

Nicknames

Do you have a nickname?  Some of you may know that my nickname is Boo.  My grandchildren call me Boo.  It's a funny one for sure, as a lot of nicknames are.  My Daddy called me Boo from my earliest memories.  Why in the world would someone be called Boo?  I thought my whole life it was because it didn't take much for me to boo-hoo. That is true--I've always been sensitive, sometimes to a fault.  It's the way God made me.  I feel with my whole heart. I've been told it shows I'm alive and it's a good thing.



Me and My Mama and Daddy




What comes first the nickname or the perception of the nickname?  Was I sensitive because of a silly name?  I don't think so or maybe I do.

Many years later, Daddy spent a lot of time in our home when he was ill with pancreatic cancer.  It was a very difficult time for me, but at the same time it gave me many hours to spend with my Daddy.  We were able to talk about a lot of things.




Daddy getting his photo taken on a horse as was popular back then.




One day we were talking about how in the world he came up with my nickname of Boo.  I was Mama and Daddy's firstborn, and he thought I was beautiful.  He said I was his beautiful-Boo!  WHAT??  I was so surprised to hear this.  I just assumed all those years my name had come from my sensitivity.  How wrong I was!  Why had I not asked about this before?  Why wasn't I told this?  Who knows?  My Daddy was one of the few people who used to call me Boo.  I do like his reason better than mine.



Me




16 comments:

  1. Loved seeing the photos, there is nothing to match they they used to take photographs before digital.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Amalia, I love old photographs also. I'm trying to scan as many as I can before they deteriorate. I've already found some that are stuck to old plastic albums. That is a huge project that I need to be more diligent about. ♥

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  2. The only nickname I really had never stuck after I was born. Daddy was a huge fan of westerns and before I was born I was nicknamed Jimmy Ringo after the Ringo Kid.Once I was born and came out a girl that name when by the wayside! Maybe it didn't, as I know all about it! lol I'm happy it was my Daddy who nicknamed me, even if it didn't stick.
    Lovely old photographs, imagine a fashion of having your picture taken on a horse! I do love that picture of you as a baby! A real bonnie lass!
    ~~~Deb

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    1. Deb, I'm not familiar with Jimmy Ringo--I'll have to look that up! That's so cute! I think Daddy's must be partial to giving nicknames. Grayden, my husband, still calls our daughter Punkin. I think she loves it! ♥

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  3. Martha Ellen, You WERE a beautiful baby! I don't understand why, either, we don't ask our parents the questions we seem to wait to have until it's too late. It's wonderful that you had that time with your father, despite the difficult time that it was for both of you. I don't have a nickname. In fact, my name is what it is--not Catherine--because my Dad didn't want me to be called Kate. He liked Cathy and that was to be my name. However, he would call me "Sis" from time to time once I was grown up. It must be a Southern thing? And I've had friends call me Cath. But I'm of the mind that if you give someone a name, that is the name that should be used.....unless, it's an endearing term that comes about from the relationship. Then it is what I'd call a "love name." :-)

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    1. Your idea of a "love name" is so sweet, Cathy. I'm going to use that from now on. Our grandson, Samuel, goes by Samuel and not Sam as some people insist on doing. ♥

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  4. What a blessing that you were able to discover the origin of your nickname! Beautiful story, Martha Ellen!

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  5. What a sweet post! If you've looked at my blog you see it's name is a nickname my dad gave me that I never asked the origin of. He was really the only one who called me that. And my commonly used name is also a nickname, the same as my aunt I was named for. Loved seeing the photos!

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    1. I've seen your nickname, Dotsie! It's so cute and I love that it was a name your daddy gave you, too! So you have two nicknames? That's interesting --you were named after an aunt. I love that. Part of my name (Ellen) was my Mama's name. ♥

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  6. The name of your blog really caught my eye! Love blogs about the joy of home and my name is Elizabeth Ellen!

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  7. Hello, Elizabeth Ellen--Thank you for stopping by and I hope you find joy in your home! ♥

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  8. Well, I'm glad you finally found out the real reason for your nickname! I have a nickname, too. Close friends and family members call me "Ro", just short for Rosinda. It started in high school and it just stuck. By the way, you are beautiful, Boo! I think it's an adorable nickname. :)

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    1. Your nickname is so cute, Ro! I love my nickname now, especially when I hear my grandchildren or my husband call me Boo. Thank you for your sweet comment! xo ♥

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  9. What lovely memories, Martha Ellen! Your nickname is the sweetest ever. So happy that your dad shared the story! Life is filled with surprises ~ and the meaning of your nickname is one of the best ♡

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    1. Life is so filled with surprises, Dawn! It's funny how a child can conjure up a subject and run with it one's whole life! I'm so happy I had that time with my Daddy! ♥

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