what my dad used to call me

when my dad came home from work he'd call me

a new

nickname.

i never knew what it would be.

it was like waiting for Christmas morning when

you hadn't even made your list

yet.


one time it was niknar which was

my last name spelled sdrawkcab and it took me till i was 

eleven

to figure that out.


one time it was winkin, blinkin, and nod which

was the story he read with one hand on the book and

one hand on my cheek.


i remember when it was eebeezer and i asked him what

that meant and he took my hands in his and said,

nancy,

there are a thousand ways to say

i love you. don't you ever

forget 

that.