By Any Other Name...
My, oh my, have I been called a ton of names over the years. I've had more nicknames than DVDs. In the interest of giving those of you who are undecided as to what to call me, here they are, all my names (except my real one), with explanations!
Jimmy. My first initial is "J", my last one "M". In typical Hebrew Academy fashion, one thing led to another, and before you know it,
the nice Jewish boy has gone Jimmy. Go figure.
J.J. This one was short lived, but it pops up periodically. More on a whim than anything else. Oh, first initial + middle initial.
Jude. Classic shortening. I got my own Beatles song. It's playing right now!
Judaica. Close to my name, my religion, and a field I'm pretty good in. Covers all bases.
The Rock. What can I say, I was an excellent goalie back in 2nd Grade.
Puzh Puzh. Naming as only my good friend Pavel can. Ask him.
Gershon. The longest-lived of my Rabbi Hecht-pseudonyms.
Josh. My ophthalmologist calls me Josh.
You. Sammy Danovich, 6th Grade. I remember Sammy, I remember.
Gregor. My part in our play. I wouldn't mind if it stuck, it's pretty cool.
Cardinal Clean. Dima Rechevskiy's hygiene brigade. In a school of teens, we were sufficiently successful.
Giant. Guilty as charged.
Dictionary. What can I say? I know some words.
Yuda. Mrs. Hershkovitz's name for little old me.
Buddha. Well... It sounds like my name.
Shrek. It was 2001. Why not?
Jorge. Somewhat self inflicted.
Seinfeld without the bank account. I really am flattered. Seriously.
Dujah. Victor's brilliant yearbook signing. As he said, "Rossy, I'm sydlexic".
Churchill II. I can't remember who gave it to me, but man, I LOVED it.
Jordan for a Day. I felt on, and I counted - I scored 41 points and 11 rebounds. That's Pavel again with the name.
Brother Judah. Thank you, Jake.
Bombas. This one was courtesy of a UCSF receptionist.
There will be more. Oh yes. I welcome and love them like you could never know. Give me more. Every year, Hebrew Academy gives me so many new ones. 2003/04 was no different, with our great Senior crop and my great-as-ever class. There's no reason to stop now. When I get 'em, I'll post 'em. Until then, I'll talk to YOU later.