A Rose by any other name...

What's in a name?

O, be some other name! What's in a name? that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet...

Some people believe that names are important and other don't. In fact, some people believe that names are as important as the objects they apply to and have a certain kind of power. We live in a society where names are no longer a description of who we are or what we do, it's merely something we are called. Our "real" (legal) names, at least.

For anyone who participates in a chatroom or instant message service, posts a blog, or even has an email address, though, we have a chance to be known as something else. We can choose our own name. Some use their own names out of lack of imagination or just plain comfort with their "real" name. Others take the opportunity to reinvent themselves by choosing a new name that reflects who they are or who they would like to be. Still others, like myself, use nicknames, or variations on nicknames that have been bestowed upon us by others.

Nicknames.....I have had many over the years, and they all have their stories behind them. Some of them I understand and others I don't. But I enjoy them. If someone has given me a nickname, it implies that I mean something to them, that I am important, special. I LIKE THAT! Even the ones that are embarrassing, and very often they are.

So here is the proposition:

a) tell us a nickname you've been given and the story behind it, or

what name would you choose for yourself and why

I can't wait to see how far it goes, and since I'm responsible, I'll start...

I choose a.
I had a friend in college who gave me several nicknames. Now that he's gone and joined the Navy I can come up with several for him too, but I digress. Anyway, you have to picture this: the upper level of the student center was called the bridge because the middle part was open on the front and back, offices on the sides. They would have banquets and such up there, but usually it was just a place for us to hang out, watch movies, do homework, play cards... There was a group of us, mostly music majors, that played cards alot. This friend would almost always sit opposite me, and I had a habit of stretching out on the floor propped up on my elbows facing the middle. This posture, along with the low-cut tops I wore most of the time provided quite a view (I was unaware of this at first). On occasion I would take a drink of soda, tea, water, etc...and a few times I spilled. No big deal, except for the way I was sitting (laying down). This caused the liquid to stream over my chin, down my neck, and between my.... Well, you get the idea. One night when this happened he started laughing, and we asked what was so funny. He replied by describing some commercial about tires, someone asked what kind of tire..."You know which one, the Aquatread!", and pointed at my chest. Embarassing, yes. Funny, yes. Do I hear about it from some people to this day? yes, and I remember those days fondly.

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