I am a fan of monikers. I have a terrible memory for names. I have always used monikers to help me remember, and monikers to help new friends build context. For example, there was a guy in college name Joe who played the lap harp, forever remembered as Jarp. I have a friend from my days in Brooklyn who moved back home to Kansas City around the same time that I moved home to Cleveland whose permanent name is Kansas City Dave or KC Dave for short. With all the Dave's I've met, it's a great way for someone to know which Dave I'm talking about.
Bill, who's mentioned a few places here already, has had several monikers: Bill the Geek, Bill the Monk, Bill the Ex Monk and Billiam. During college, he was always but affectionately called Bill the Geek in my storytelling, and my new college friends quickly began to use the name, too. Since Billiam was my first boyfriend and an important part of my life to that point, he showed up in all kinds of retellings like prom, dating drama, school, church, etc. Even though he was also at Miami, my new pals never met him, and came to know him as Bill the Geek.
At some point during freshman year, my buddy Mikey and I ran into Bill. I introduced each, highlighting that I'd known Bill since 7th grade. Mikey was immediately animated, saying "Wow! You must know Bill the Geek, then!". Always a quick thinker, Bill just extended his hand for a handshake and said "I believe it is I who am Bill the Geek." Mikey turned crimson for just a moment before we all had a good laugh. Lesson learned.
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