Nicknames

In some circles I'm known as the "Goddess" with minor variations such as Goddess of the North (no one has ever attached Goddess of housework or something derogatory!). The nickname started 20+ years ago when I was acting city editor for the Dispatch/Argus. I remember a summer of 12 hour days at the office, smoking too much, eating too little, and losing at least 25 pounds (no tragedy ... for the second time in my life I was down to a size 10, yeh!) My job was to oversee all the reporters and assign/edit their stories. Some were rookies, others were veterans. My favorite rookie was from Kansas and her twang easily identified her when she called to say her story was in my queue. So I'd call it up, ask her questions, make some changes and forward it to the copy editors for another review before placement on a page. The Kansan (whose name escapes me) would always respond to my suggestions with "Kaareen, you are such a Godeeesss (think long and twangy)."

The name kinda stuck around, but I didn't use it a lot during a 10-year sometimes miserable stint as a marketing professional at Trinity. It surfaced occasionally, but not often.

Goddess became more prominent in my friendship with my pastor, who, younger than my kids, needs to be teased now and then. He came up with the name Bishop of all that is good and faithful (or something like that) as his moniker in response to a proposed change to the Presbyterian constitution. So I always tell him that Goddess trumps bishop on the theological pyramid. So he tried to change it to Goddess of the North, which still trumps bishop but is not as high as the original. 

JD, the pastor, and I have done some good things together for the church and community. When we discuss things, he says, "Well, that's right (or do these people quake) because after all, you are the Goddess (no twang, he's from Moline.). You get the idea, I have fun with it.

I don't think I ever shared this moniker with my family before (well, maybe Sheila)! Oh, well, now I am. Most people call me Karen, a few like my brother George say Kay. Another few go with KayBee. No great shakes with those affectations. I think Goddess is much more definitive!

I'm sure God is not offended by such frivolity!