I was named after my Grampa (‘Andrew’) and my Dad (‘Clifford’). On my Mom’s side, there are four generations of men with the name ‘Andrew’. It only skipped her generation because Nana never had a son. There is history to this name.
However, I *always* introduced myself as ‘Andy’ when I was a kid. ‘Andrew’ was too formal, too unapproachable, and too adult-sounding. If you knew me as a kid then you knew me as ‘Andy’. Everyone called me by that nickname.
That is, everyone except for Nana.
Nana always called me ‘Andrew’. She used my full name right up until the day she didn’t remember me anymore. I was always ‘Andrew’ to her.
I asked her about this when I was ten years old or thereabouts. “Why don’t you call me ‘Andy’?”
Without hesitation, she replied, “Because your Grampa is always ‘Andy’ to me. He’s my Andy. You’re my ‘Andrew’, and that’s special to me too.”
I liked this.
As I got older I realized that Nana wasn’t the only one who called me by my full name. Aunt Janice always did, too. Of my closest, dearest friends I could (and can) always count on Nick, Ben, and Victor to do so, too. Bridget and Riley also use my full name. Greg has always called me ‘Drew’ but that’s another story altogether.
When I started my Master’s program I introduced myself as ‘Andrew.’ It was more adult-sounding and I felt pretty grown up by this point. I never expected to develop close friendships while I was working on my thesis. But I did. Now I realize that I have made (hopefully) life-long friends who have never once called me by my nickname.
How unusual that sounds to me. And how wonderful, too.
I may be ‘Andrew’ to a lot of people now. Once upon a time, I was ‘Andrew’ to just one person, and calling me such was special to her. And to me.
Remembering Nana today on the seventh anniversary of her passing at age 103.
Hmmm, I was always Jimmy to my Mom and probably my “Nana” as well. Of course, that sounded too juvenile to my admittedly juvenile ear so my preference was, “Jim”.
This website is a great step for you. Congratulations.