Nicknames

Dear Mom,

I remember Dad calling you Pee Wee. That was before the famous Peewee Herman. I was told because you were the smallest of your eight siblings even though you were the oldest. I don’t know if any of your siblings called you Pee Wee. I don’t know of any of them having nicknames.

Now Dad’s siblings, eight of them too and he was the oldest as well, had lots of nicknames. The three I remember are Harold as Boob, Leona as Pete and George as June or Junior, since he was named after Grandpa. Leona cannot stand Pete and now only wants to be called Lee. They had called her Spider too. Lawrence was Corkscrew, Gertrude was Gerts, Herb was Pooter, Alvin was Mousy, George was also Kiki, Hilda was Tanta or Hid, and Dad was Teddy. Dad hated that so much it didn’t stick. I guess being the oldest has its advantages.

Ruthie had a nickname that you put the skids on because she’d have a fit. She still hates it, so I dare not say. Warren was Warnie Corny. Dad called me Innie Marie. I don’t think Suzanne was anything—again the oldest has its advantages. Her husband sometimes calls her SuzieQ.

Before Casey was born, he was nicknamed Bosco. Jessica was called Froggy because of that contraption. Rita was Rita Pita but she changed hers to Ritabook, which is clever. Jessica and Rita call each other di-di (dee-dee).

Norm calls me Lester, but I get him back by calling him Willis.