What's in a Name?

Since this blog began several people have commented on my name: Fannie

This, of course, is a nickname originating from the latter half of my first name: Steffanie

As a little girl my family used an alternative nickname: Steffi
this I did not enjoy beyond the age of 12

My older brother had another name for me: Toughy Teffy
my assumption is that this name originates with a fair amount of irony, considering I was neither a tough nor big child, tears my constant companion

There were other nicknames during high school: better left to the imagination

Several years ago this, my most recent nickname, began to take hold when a coworker and friend, Kathleen, announced my arrival in the office day in and day out: Stef-FANNIE

I still see her at the local coffee shop where she is a barista, the door ding consistently followed by Kathleen's excitement: Stef-FANNIE

The final straw, nursing school, where my closest friends test out alternative names that will make us laugh during intensive study sessions. Unbeknownst to us, a part of one of these names stuck: Fannie Babinski

After dropping the Babinski, I was left with the nickname: Fannie

A shocking number of people (mostly men) refuse to refer to me by my nickname. What's in a name? Well, I've determined there might be more in it than letters, syllables, pronunciations... stories, there are always stories.