Thoughts about nicknames

I just had an epiphany. I grew up having family nicknames given to me and hearing them used for all of us. I'm older now, and we've spread out now. I have two siblings on the east coast, and two on the west coast. I live further inland. There are nicknames I had I don't miss now. One sister used to call me chicken liver. It was a sign of affection...yeah I know how weird that is. My oldest sister still calls me salamander, something her husband called me when I was 6, over forty years ago.

I'd like salamander to go away. I'm too old for that anymore. But I realize that those names are part of our shared history as a family. As long as they're still here to call me things, even if they're things I don't like, everything is okay. Because I still have them here, on this planet, in this life. That is beautiful and a genuine blessing. Thanks, J.G. And Moresybabe and Eesy and Annie.