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What's in a Name

 Kay, in her Musings today, asked about nicknames. It got me thinking about growing up. My brother Ed considered it his mission to give all the neighborhood kids* colorful and yet strangely appropriate nicknames. Some persist to this day, for better or worse.

This past weekend my brother and his wife had a get together of the old gang, sadly somewhat diminished in number. Still, I think it's notable that my brother has maintained closeness with his childhood friends and I have a couple honorary brothers because of it.




It was nice to be around people and lots of good food from my brother's outdoor kitchen. He and his wife run a way-stop camp ground for bicyclists who are riding across the state. Their house (not pictured) was built in the late 1700's and was a stop for wagons and coaches for many years.

*What happened to neighborhood kids all out playing in yards and schoolyards. Where do kids go these days??


Anyway, I have had several nicknames with various stories attached to how they came to be, but my given name, Olga, is a family name. Maybe double family name -- as I was named after my mother's favorite sister who died from cancer in the early 1940's. She also happened to be my father's  first wife (and, let's face it, probably favorite wife). Kind of a complex psychological burden of a name I think!


All the same, one of my honorary brothers did tell me how much he used to love being with our family. we were so much fun. Not always, maybe, but you know, on the whole that was true. 

I am fortunate  no matter what else you call me.

Comments

  1. Your brother's house must have a wonderful history, a Wayside Inn. It's cool that he is still offering a stop over place.
    It would be fun to get together with childhood playmates. We were country kids so we didn't have many close kid neighbors.

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  2. That get together with childhood friends must have been fun. For a moment you were all kids again. Your name origin really does have interesting roots.
    Love your current nickname.

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  3. Well, I think it is wonderful that you had such a good time at your brother's party. Interesting story about your name, and how you were named after your mother's sister, who also was your father's first wife. How odd. Wow!

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  4. I have always been partial to the name Olga... as it was my grandmother's sister's name (my great aunt Olga) and she was a favorite of mine. I never knew my grandmother who died when I was a baby, so my Aunt Olga sort of took her place. She was the sweetest lady.

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  5. My middle sister keeps up with some of the old neighborhood that were her age. I think that get together would have been great fun. Your brother must have been a hoot with his nicknames.

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  6. Awww... Thank you for the acknowledgement, Olga. I always thought Olga was an exotic name, but Art's cousin's wonderful wife's name Olga too. How wonderful that you were named for people who were so well loved. It's fabulous that you were able to spend time with all these friends and that you came from such a well liked, FUN family.

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  7. Sounds like your brother was a great guy; I'd love to know some of those nicknames.

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  8. Oh wow, your brother and SIL's home and business sound fun. I wonder if he continues to nickname those who pass through as well. Spending time with old friends, and honorary family members sounds like a wonderful time.

    I never had a nickname as a child. Mae is not my name, I took it from my aunt as a result of closing my previous blog. The name I go by most often is actually my second name, as another aunt threatened to call me Franky if mom used my first name Frances.

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  9. I love old houses. And I love family gatherings. We had one in July for my husband's 70th birthday. Twelve of us. It was lots of fun. Memory making time!-

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  10. You made me miss some "good ole days". My only nicknames were Chuckles in high school and my Ron called me Shyanne and Lizziebeth.

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