I am a horrible one for using nicknames for people. The biggest mistake you could ever make in my presence is telling me, “So & so calls me ‘this’ & I hate it.” Epic. Mistake. That will be the one name I will remember forever. I worked with a Maggie once – she never should have told me about the customer that called her “Magpie”…

Knowing that I do this – you’d think that I would be smarter. You’d think…

Known by many but pronounced by few – my daughter’s middle name is Ku’uleihaukeaokapiliaumoe. It took hubby 8 years to learn it and only then because my parents visited for a month & my dad used it daily. For whatever reason, I mentioned it in my forum and someone asked what it meant. I was far too smart to just explain my oldest brother’s Hawaiian language skills & the fact that she was born in the car in a snow storm. Instead, I posted a link to a post that he made years ago. I didn’t pay attention to the whole thing – just the explanation about her name. Major failz.

I don’t mind the name Rusty. In fact, hubby & his family call me Rusty. I was given the name in my early twenties by a big burly Hawaiian I worked with at a hotel on Maui where I waitressed poolside. I had only been there for a week and we had the company party. It was raining that day & everyone was huddled under a tent. I always loved rain and just stood out in it. When I was finally coaxed under the tent (probably with booze) Aku (who played the Hawaiian Santa each year) called me over. He took my arm and looked at my freckles. “Haole girl, I told you get outta da rain. Now you stay all rusty.” (Yes, my pidgin still comes back like a second language.) Haole is literally “visitor” but locals use it a lot to describe Caucasians and it isn’t always derogatory. (The arms also got me called Appaloosa by a certain deranged Chihuahua -I think I like Haole better )

Aku was the “leader” so to speak of all the hotel maintenance crew. They were a friendly batch and all had a great laugh at my expense but I didn’t mind. (I’m sure there were more drinks involved so it’s all good.) What I didn’t know was that the Personnel manager was off to the side overhearing the banter. When I got to work the next day, I had a new name badge waiting for me with my time card. Yup. Rusty.

Its no secret I was never fond of the name June. I am a 3rd generation June & it was always just a little confusing getting phone calls at home. My mother was called “honey” & “sweetheart” on more than one occasion by my boyfriends. I didn’t think we sounded alike at all. It’s funny how that comes full circle because now people think I’m my daughter on the phone.

The name Rusty just stuck. Friends began to use it & I liked it. I never had a nickname in school. You couldn’t do anything with June except the 3rd grade “June-the-prune”. (I know I’m gonna regret that.)

When hubby & I met on Kauai, he told his family about his best friend Rusty. “We do everything together. We’ve done all the hikes, go for drives…it’s great to have a good friend here finally.” When he called a few months later & said, “Rusty & I are getting married,” the response was. “Geez Loise. Tommy joined the Coast Guard & went gay!” *giggles* I guess he hadn’t mentioned Rusty was a chick.

On my forum – I’m auntybug. I have acquired Bug, Buggy, Buggers, Stalker Bug, AB, & a few more & I don’t mind any of them. I know who is supposed to call me what. When my forum friends got wind of the Rusty thing – it just sounded funny to me. That even topped when they had started calling me June ’cause I asked them not to! (Yes, you two (^)’s – you know who you are. Okay 3, you know you’re guilty too, Puppy.)

I guess it doesn’t matter. All’s fair in love and nicknames. I have at least 2 for most of my friends – some have 3 and amazingly hubby can keep up with me. My poor daughter has gone from Valerie to Larrie to just Lar – her Hawaiian name doesn’t even usually come into play. I do this with my characters in my books too but so far my Beta’s haven’t complained.

Here’s to all my friends. I may call you by your handle, your avatar, or a name you don’t quite like instead of your name but I loves ya.

Love,
(whatever-the-heck-you-call-me)
*smooch*