...a first-hand recollection of nicknames (of people from our past). These nicknames were nurtured from personal history that controlled the narrative in our every day lives. They were earned epithets that stood as informal tokens of affection, carried messages, and were bestowed upon our besties and our rivals. They were attention-grabbers and conveyed something special about a person. They were used as a way to bond with individuals. Through wordplay or rhyme, they added flair and connected the named and the name user to a simpler past...and whether they liked 'em or not, these nicknames were known better than the names on their birth certificates.