nicknames

I think the first nickname I can remember is 'the little knee hugger'. Mom Foutz called me that because I was so short and would follow her around everywhere attaching myself to her body by hugging her knee and resting my weight on her foot. I am sure she looked like she had a wooden leg as she tried to navigate herself around the house with her little attachment. The second name also comes from mom foutz: Hannie Ponnie. That one is like nails on a chalkboard. AHH!! I know it was said with only tenderness and love, but I just hated it!! She would more often than not, shorten it to Han Pon... even worse!! The next name that comes to my memory would be from the oldest and bossiest sister: Mijken. Or as we called her "Mij-ken Foo" She for some reason she called me Honk. Go figure. It stuck for a long time. Then there's the oldest but younger brother, Jake the rake the big fat fake, fee fi fo for goodness sake... He called me T-Rex. Yes, in referral to my t-rex like forearms..... thanks for those genetics dad foutz!! j/k... I really do not have a complex, I promise. I have fully embraced them. They are mine!! Then I think in Junior high my best and much taller friend called me brussels (brussel sprouts) and she was corn. Both in referral to our statures. Teenagers... Then there were the days of the "F's". My best friend Kelly (Felly) and I (Fannie) decided to make up our own language of the F's..... everything had to start with and F. It wasn't our fault if you couldn't understand us!! FO FET FA FICTIONFARY!! I think that today the only names that I am called besides my given name are Penne and Penny Lover. Both are endearments from my best friend Chal. The first is short for Penne pasta, and Penny Lover has just got to be one of the best songs ever.... and besides if you listen closely, my name is mentioned in the song! As for the rest of the gang: Spud will always be my bro, Carmie will always be my sis, Mij will always be my bossiest oldest sis, Jake will stick till the end, and Rocko-Peeko-Traino... well she is the caboose.. and it just fits!!

connection

I love peeking in on others lives to see what is up by reading their blogs. It is my way to feel more connected. I have contemplated my own blog for awhile, and have not felt I have anything to post that would be interesting to others. But, alas, here I am... so we shall see how interesting I can make this. I have felt this need to re-kindle old friendships lately, I feel like people come into our lives at different times for different reasons, and then when that reason is over, so is that close connection. Although I know that is life and all it's cycles, it sometimes makes me sad to not have the closeness with some that once was shared... So, peek in on me every once in awhile, and let me know where you are too!