Nicknames

Originally Written Between 2017-2020                                                    

 

The coach read off the players’ positions:  “T-Ball, you’re pitcher.  Chesk – 1^st base.  Clete Cobb – off to shortstop.  Coyle – Second.  Beek – catcher.  And, Dog – I need you at third.  The rest of you – pick any spot in the outfield.

 

This baseball team, which was called The League by its members, played for three-to-four summers when we were all first married.  Each wife brought a big blanket, one-to-two little babies or toddlers, snacks and drinks.  While the game was being played, the kids ran around, the babies nursed and the women talked.  Now and then, we (the League-ettes) would yell, “Good catch, T-Ball,” “Good game,” “Way to go, Dog” and other encouraging phrases.

 

So, how did this bunch of fun-loving guys get names such as Chesk, Coyle, Beek and Dog?  Well, they each obtained their nickname around the ages of five or six.  Tom became T-Ball because he loved playing baseball and the "T" was short for Tom.  Because there were two Jim’s in the League, one was named Coyle because it rhymed with his real last name, Doyle, and the other was called Beek because it was short for Becker (and because he has a big nose?).  

 

The League gave the nickname “Chesk” to Pat.  Norm says it’s because they all felt sorry for him because he didn’t have a Polish last name.  So, they gave him one.  You may have noticed that Norm is not mentioned in this scenario.  I guess they thought that the name “Norm” was punishment enough!

 

But, I’d like to tell you how “Dog” got his nickname.  His real name is George.  The nursery rhyme, “Georgie, Porgie, Pudding and Pie” was repeated many times when George was around.  George eventually became a priest.  By that time, his name had morphed into “Poody.”  And, that sounded a little like “pooch.”  So, he was then called, “Padre Pooch” or “Father Dog” if they wanted to be more respectful of his priestly status.  In private, however, he was just called, “Dog.”

 

Norm has two cousins; one named, “Boots” and the other named, “Popeye.”  Their real names are Charles and Donald.  But, what fun is that?  To this day, his relatives still refer to them by their nicknames.  Their wives?  Not so much.  Chuck and Don are the names they like.

 

I’d like to tell you about a time when naming a child was very important…….. to my grandma.    I’ve told this story before; but, I think it bears repeating.  I was the first one in our family that was going to make her a great grandma.   Yes – four generations – my grandma was very excited.  So excited, in fact, that she asked me to name the baby after her!

 

And that was my dilemma.  While I loved my grandma, I wasn’t really ready to honor her request.  You see….. her name was Albina Philomena.   Her maiden name was Valenta – a nice Bohemian last name.  Her married name was Lehecka – another nice Bohemian last name.  So…. in total….. her name was Albina Philomena Valenta Lehecka.  Kind of flows nicely, doesn’t it?  Well, luckily for me, I gave birth to Michael.

 

Three year’s later, Grandma asked me again to name our soon-to-be-born baby after her.  We named him David.

 

We dodged another bullet when John was born just three months after my grandma died.  Poor grandma.  She never knew that between my brother, sister, and me, we gave her seven great grandsons and only one chance to have a great granddaughter named after her…… my daughter, Rebecca.  And I tease Rebecca all the time – telling her that I could have named her Rebecca Lehecka!