Member-only story
You Can Call Me By My Name!
Or you can make one up for me
All people have a name given to us at birth. But often, that’s not the name we go by. Over time, our personality determines how people address us. A tall guy might be known as Stretch. Or a diminutive dude as Shorty. Even within the parameters of our natural-born name, there are variations. Maybe you were born James (as was my brother). You could be James to a schoolteacher. Or Jim to a conservative trying to be hip. Or Jimmy as he still is to me today. Take Daniel. Could be Dan or Danny, right? Or maybe he sucked at athletics in his youth and the jocks might call him D-ball. OK! You get the idea.
Me…I was born William. Simple common name. My old man used to call me Wilsssson (with a ringing “s.”) But generally, I became Billy. That changed during college. I became Willy. I’m not sure exactly how that happened. But once college was over, that phase ended and I went back to Billy. Throughout, some people referred to me as Bill. I always felt that people who called me Bill didn’t get me — or were bad listeners.
I never introduced myself as Bill — ever! So why would they call me Bill? Because it made them feel comfortable? Never got that. If somebody introduced herself as Nancy, would I take…
