what's in a name?

It took us 2 seconds flat to name our son. We had Jacob picked out when I was pregnant because it sounded cool. It took us the day after our daughter was born to name her Maiya because the orginal name we picked was a bit tough for my mother to pronounce. We're not into naming our kids after dead (or alive) relatives. Nor do we look for any deep meaning. And no middle names. The only stipulation we had was that there be no obvious weird name ryhmes like Charlotte the harlot or Rick the ... you know what I mean.....

The firehall on the other hand has no such niceties when it comes to nicknaming.... All I can say is that if you get the privilege/curse of a firehouse nickname it had better be a good one because like it or not you'll be stuck with it the rest of your career and beyond. Some names are already legendary...

There's Schmoopie, Keebler, McClueIn, Captain Underpants, the Codfather, the Squid, the Mental Oriental, Special Ed, Camel Toe, Chemo, Elvis, Haggis, Full Nelson, Half Nelson, Sweet Pete, Two by Four, Ten and Two, Chair Mold, Hippo, Zed Man, Chan Man, Tran Man, LFB, Lurch, Alligator Arms, Curby, Jiggy, Jake Brake, Frogger, Lance Romance, Scotty too Hotty, Pigpen, Ten to Ken, .........

Number one rule: you can't give yourself a nickname. That's just uncool. One guy named himslef "the Axe". Whatever. Nicknames evolve within firehouse culture according to action or personality or simply because it fits your name. Chainsaw got his name because at a call he ripped apart a front door with said equipment when all he had to do was turn the knob. It was kinda unlocked.

I haven't "earned" or been given a nickname yet... unless they're calling me something behind my back which could very well be a possiblity. But nothing could be as bad as my maiden name which was a 4 letter slang word for a female body part. For those of you who don't know it you'll just have to lose some sleep figuring it out. Thank goodness I married and took on my husband's nice old English last name that is untouchable and oh-so-proper enough to have tea with the Queen.