Nicknames through the ages

Jennifer Cory is my given name. Most know me by Cory. Some only by Jennifer. To many this leads to confusion. "Why do you go by Cory?" they ask. "I dunno, always been called that." I respond. "Isn't that a boys name?" some, poor souls, ask. (I have learned to let go of the urge to grab them by the throat and squeeze with each syllable "It is not just a boys name") Others still ask, "Do you not like Jennifer?" (or even worse Jenny). My response is always "No, I have no problem with the name Jennifer, I have just never been called it." Cory is my name, at least my main one. But let us look back to nicknames. I have had many.

Second grade: A boy named Matthew (last name omitted for privacy sake). He called me "meatloaf." I am not sure where this came from. While I do like meatloaf (the food, but do enjoy the singer in the 'Rocky Horror Picture Show'), it has never been anything I crowed about. He was either flirting with me, in a way only 7 year old boys are wont to do, or he was a masochist. Either way, whenever I was able to catch him I smacked him a good one.

4th grade: My future friend Lyndsey was not aware of my name, as she had just moved to town. She asked the teacher who the girl with hair like noodles was. Thus the nickname 'Noodles' was born.

6th grade: I had this obsession with wearing red high top sneakers. Loved, loved, loved them! (I have re-created this by wearing my red Chuck Taylors). Put this with my curly hair and Ronald McDonald was born.

10th grade: Hercules was born due to wearing these hippie-dippie sandals all the time (there were a couple of people who called me Jesus feet too)

Same year: My friend Jennifer, upset that I went by my middle name decided that I needed a new one. I was thus christened "Cory Wanda" this later was shortened to Cory W, then even more to "Cory Dub." This nickname lasted throughout high school.

Freshman year of college: Crabby rooster. Works on many levels. In the zodiac I am Cancer, thus the crab. In the Chinese Zodiac I am a rooster, thus the rooster. But the name also came about because I am extremely crabby if you wake me up. That and my ability to pinch really, really hard with my toes

Sophomore year/Disney: Fiery farmer. This is because I was attempting to grow an avocado plant as well as dry out some hot peppers (both would regularly get destroyed during our (nightly) parties.) Fiery, not only because of the hot peppers, but because I managed to blow up our microwave. Yes, while everyone else at Disney compound had the normal issue white microwave. Thanks to my cooking, we had a black one. Definite conversation starter.

Of course I am regularly called 'Sprads', 'Spradley' this leads to confusion as my other siblings respond to this name as well. So I just stuck to the ones that are specific to me (well leaving out 'stinky feet', 'fat girl' and 'PPSW').

Peace Corps News: Dentally cleared. Woo Hooo!! This means I do not have to get my wisdom teeth taken out. Still waiting on medically cleared. Of course by waiting, I mean I have been checking my status daily. Even though I know it is too soon, the hope runs hard. Tomorrow, I will not check my status, that is my new goal.