My Names

"Ronnie"

Inspired by a fellow blogger who recently posted about his many names, I decided to post about my many names.

I was born Ronald Walter Tipton. My Mother named me after her favorite movie star, Ronald Coleman.  Now I realize most of you have no idea of who Ronald Coleman was.  He was an English actor with a sonorous voice who starred in "Prisoner of Zenda" and "Shangri-La".  Memory of Ronald Coleman is long gone now but during the Thirties and early Forties he was a popular leading man.  I was born in 1941, the height of Mr. Coleman's popularity.  

Ronald Coleman - actor for whom I was named

I am the oldest of three brothers. My father's name was Isaac.  My Mother did not like that name.  My father wanted to name me after himself but my Mother wouldn't have it.  She told him "I'm not naming any of my children that ugly name."  Ironically, when my second brother was born, he was named Isaac Walter Tipton, Jr.  It all worked out because my father was blonde as is my brother Isaac.  Of course when my brother had a son, you guessed it, "Isaac Walter Tipton, III".  To keep them all straight my father was always referred to as "Ike".  My brother referred to as "Isaac" or "Jr", which he hated. His son is referred to as "Ikey", which as a 52 year old grandfather he isn't fond of "Ikey".  He has tried to get everyone to call him "Ike" but to us he will always be "Ikey".  But I digress.  

Below is a list of names that I have been known by in my seventy-seven years trodding this earth:

Ronald - my given name and the name I was known and referred by during my school days from first grade to twelfth grade. 

Ronnie - the name my family always called me by which I hated because I thought it sounded too feminine. 

Ron - the name I choose for myself when I left home and joined the Army in January of 1960.  No one in my previous life had ever called me "Ron". I didn't plan to change my name to "Ron" when I joined the Army.  What happened was when I was asked by a friend in Basic Training for my first name (in the Army everyone is called by their last name, more about that latter) I decided then and there to refer to myself as "Ron."  This decision of mine created an interesting dynamic between my two lives. The one life I had before I joined the Army and the one after I joined the Army.  The first time someone from my post Army life heard me referred to as "Ronnie" they thought it was so childlike. Same with people from my pre Army life when they heard someone from my post Army life call me "Ron", they said "Whose Ron?"  Even to this day, all my family calls me "Ronnie" with the sometimes exceptions of my two younger brothers.

Buck - My two younger brothers often refer to be as "Buck".  The best way to explain that is that it is an affection term of derision.  Since I am the oldest I have a tendency to lord it over my brothers (best looking, smartest, etc).  They let me get away with my vanity but bring me down a notch or two by referring to me as "Buck."  I sign "Buck" to the birthday and Christmas cards that I send to them.  

Potts - this is the name my partner and husband (55 years now) calls me.  "Potts" is a shortening of the original name "Sweetie Pie" (yes, I know it is nauseatingly sweet) but hey, who doesn't have pet nicknames for their partner. I call Bill "Snag".  Again, an affectionate term of derision. Bill had all his teeth pulled many years ago.  The dentist wanted to leave a couple of good teeth in his mouth. Bill insisted on having the good ones pulled too.  You had to be there.  I also call Bill "Billy."  

C.B.1 - What my good friend Pat calls me.  I call him C.B.2. No explanation needed at this time. Just a term of endearment that is only know by us.

Tipton - this is how I was known during my three year enlistment in the Army. You lose your first name in the Army.  During Basic Training I was often referred to as "Fucking Trainee".  Of course almost everyone in Basic Training was called that endearing nickname. 

Tip or Tipper - my best friend from high school always calls me this nickname, even to this day. You would think more people would call me "Tip" but interestingly they don't.  One of my uncles was always known as "Tip", maybe because his given name was "Fieldon Jacob". 

Faggot - I've been called this term of derision quite often in my lifetime. Probably because I came out of the closet in 1963 and never hid the fact that I was an am a gay man.  I've been called "Faggot!" as I've exited gay bars.  I've been called "Faggot" as I've walked home on Spruce Street in Philadelphia.  I've been called "Faggot!" as I've walked on Laurel Street in Rehoboth Beach.  I've been called "Faggot!" as I've walked back to my rental unit during my many summertime stays in Provincetown.  The persons calling me "Faggot!" were always a carload of drunk young guys out to prove their uncertain masculinity to their friends. You would think this rite of passage for young men uncertain of their sexuality would have changed during these days of "enlightenment" but the last time I had that vicious term thrown at me was when I was walking down Laurel Street in Rehoboth Beach two years ago with Pat. A carload of so called straight guys trolling the gay neighborhoods spotted us walking.  Two men walking together in a mostly gay neighborhood?  "Faggots!"  

Mr. Tipton - believe it or not I am rarely called "Mr. Tipton".  Something that disappoints me because I thought I would gain that term of respect after aging gracefully.  

"Uncle Ronnie" - what my nephew, grand nephews, nieces, grand nieces and grand grand nieces all me which I love.  "Uncle Ronnie!"  A nice friendly term of endearment.  

One thing I will never be called is "Dad" which sometimes makes me sad but this is the hand life has dealt me.  

A footnote, if I was born a girl my name would have been "Louise", which was my Mother's middle name.  My Mother always wanted a girl and of course she had three boys. During my Mother's pregnancy she and her sister-in-law Gert ("Aunt Gert" who had the same middle name "Louise)) had a friendly rivalry whose baby would be born first.  Of course I was born first (November 9th) and my cousin "Louise" was born November 13th.  

Me with my cousin Louise Tipton White

Useless Trivia Information

I admit it, I am a trivia slut.  I just cannot get enough information that basically means nothing.  Oh sure, I have my strong areas of trivia (movie stars, Fifties and Sixties, historical figures, geography) and my weak areas (math, science and common sense).  

Lately these useless pieces of trivia have been running through my mind much like hearing a musical jingle creates an earwig in your brain that you can't get rid of.  I think these totally non-interesting tidbits of trivia in my brain were triggered by the biography I'm reading of our 40th president, Ronald Wilson Reagan. The book was written by the acclaimed author Edmund Morris, biographer of Teddy Roosevelt. I have to admit I'm having a hard time plowing through Mr. Morris's book but I will finish it for I am fascinated by president Reagan's life.  Not the least of which we have the same name.  In fact we have the same middle initial "W."  And we also have the same alliterative name, two syllables each in our first, middle and last name.  And the number of letters in both of our names add up to nine.  And nine is my lucky number.  I was born on the 9th of November. Have I put you to sleep yet?  Get this.  My present house address also adds up to 9.  Have you it the red "X" up in the corner of this blog yet?

So folks, here is one of the most interesting facts that has always amazed me.  I was never happy with the name assigned to me at birth "Ronald."  However, my Mother insisted on that name because she didn't want to name me the "ugly" (her words) name of my father Isaac.  Ironically, today "Isaac" is considered somewhat cool.  Right up there with the "J's", "Jacob, Joshua, Jeremiah, Jason and Jarred.  But I digress.  

So my Mother had her was and named me after her favorite movie star of that time (1941), the suave, melt in your mouth speaking voice,  English actor Ronald Coleman.  

I see the resemblance even if you don't

But here I go again, veering off into another subject.  This is what happens when I write my blog by whatever wafts through my head.

Here's the point I want to make.  My name is "Ronald."  My brother's names are Isaac (yes, Pop finally had his way and his second son was named after him) and John.  

Growing up in the Fifties I always thought it was interesting that president Dwight D. Eisenhower was called "Ike."  That was my father's name.  Same with my brother, "Ike, Jr."  Who would have ever thought a president would have the "ugly name" of Ike?  So I was sort of proud that a president was called "Ike."

Then of course there was the election of John F. Kennedy. If course "John" is a very common name.  No surprise that a man elected to be president would be named "John."  In fact we have had five presidents named "John."  I know most of you can name four of them.  But can you name the fifth?  Bet you can't.

But I never in a million years thought a president would be elected with the name "Ronald."  Never. So imagine my surprise and delight that a man was elected president named "Ronald."  Of course I voted for him, both times.

So there you go folks.  My exercise in triviality and frivolity (I hope) this hot, muggy Sunday.  

Do you feel enriched?  Enlarged? Engaged? Or do you just feel enraged that I just wasted five or more minutes of your time on this totally useless series of facts about moi?

Happy Sunday folks and do something good for yourself to stay cool.

Nicknames

"Ron"  - 1962 - after the transformation from "Ronnie"

Ronald Walter Tipton

That's my name, don't wear it out.

Like many of you I have several nicknames that I have accumulated over the past three score and ten years (that's 70 for those of you who don't know the Gettysburg Address reference).

"Little Ronnie" - 1948

My given name these days is "Ron."  However, I wasn't always a "Ron."  In fact I gave myself that nickname after I joined the Army in 1960, when I was 18 years old.  Prior to me leaving home, I was always known as "Ronnie" (which I didn't like) or "Ronald" (usually called that by teachers and my Mother when I was in trouble.)

"Ronnie" - 1952

The first few months when I was in the Army I was known by my last name only "Tipton" as were almost all of my fellow trainees.  Oh yes, during the eight weeks of basic training my name was "F__cking Trainee" as were almost all of my fellow recruits. 

Transformation complete - now "Ron" - 1962

After basic training I was sent to Army Security Agency training school in Fort Devens, Massachusetts.  While there I continued to be known by one name "Tipton."  Then, as I began forming close friendships I was asked my my first name was.  I decided then and there to make a BIG CHANGE.  This was my opportunity to get rid of the hated "Ronnie" which to me always sounded like a girl's name (short for Veronica of "Archie" comic book fame).  Heretofore I was to be known as "RON". 

"Ron" at First Financial Bank - 2000

During my three years in the Army I met a lot of people, made many friends and when I left the service in January of 1963 I was probably known by more people as "RON" than "Ronnie."  However, once I returned home I was called "Ronnie." 

"Ron" - 1976

In the ensuing years friends from my Army days and subsequent civilian job years overlapped with my pre-Army days.  Each side was somewhat amused when I was called either "Ron" or "Ronnie." 

"Ronald" - 1959 - shortly before I joined the Army and before the change to "Ron"

Yesterday I attended my 53rd annual high school class reunion.  Most people referred to me as "Ronnie".  A few, who have known me over the years now call me "Ron."

"Ron" - 1968

Now for my other nicknames.  My two younger brothers have a special nickname for me that they have called me for years.  I don't know the origin of this nickname but I suspect that it contains a bit of tinge of sarcasm because I am the older, smarter, and better looking brother which I find I have to constantly remind them of this fact.  Are you ready?  Their preferred nickname for me is:  "Buck".  Yep, Buck.  And they always say it with a special emphasis on the last syllable "ck."  Uh huh.  They sort of spit it out if you knoow what I mean.  I always suspected there was an undercurrent of disrespect in their tone.  I don't think they quite bought into my first born superiority over them.

Brothers Isaac, John and "Buck" - July 25, 1956

I have some other nicknames out there that are unique to one person.  One long time friend usually calls me "Tipper" or "Tip."  That is a common nickname for us of the Tipton family.  Not much original there.  In fact, my brother calls his wife "Tipper" and she's not even a blood Tipton so go figure.

"Ron" - 1984

One of my co-workers at the Philadelphia bank where I worked in a previous life always called me "Handsome" and "Good-looking", which I didn't mind AT ALL.  I don't think he ever called me by my given name, first or last.  I really liked that guy.  He always made me smile.

Mellon Bank Days - 1982 "Handsome/Goodlooking" days (thank you)

Now for the pet names. The main one My Bill uses is "Pots."  Where does that come from?  Very simple.  He used to call me "Sweetie Pie" which evolved into "Sweetie Pots" and eventually he shortened over the years to "Pots."  Embarrassing isn't it?

"Ron" today (2012)