On The Farm In Northern Colorado
1940’S
Dads name was John Melvin McClure Sr.
Moms name was Loretta Edith Cogswell McClure
Dad had a knack for nick names. I am the oldest of five. I have two brothers and two sisters. Dad did not like my first name – so on a few occasions he called me “Molly Ann” but not in front of Mom, because her Mom named me Edith Ann. Dad sometimes referred to me as “Cotton Top.” I had white fuzzy hair until I was about 7. My friends call me Ann or Annie. My good friends affectionately call me “Annie-Banannie.” or “Annie B.” Then I became a Grandma, now I am Grannie Annie. Absolutely NO ONE called me Edith Ann except my Grandma Cogswell, who named me, AND the Social Security! I once asked Grandma WHY she name me Edith Ann? She looked at me very seriously and said “I could have named you Freda Louise, after me!” I never asked her again!! We lived in Eagle River when Lilly Tomlin played Edith Ann in the big rocking chiar, while sucking her thumb. My kids really joked with me about my name.
Dad named his oldest son, my older-younger brother, (a year younger than me,) John Melvin McClure Jr. But he actually called him “Butch.” Mom and the rest of us called him “Sonny.” His name was Johnny in High School and now he (and I) in our 70’s, has become John.
My older-little, sister Ginger, has a very pretty name, Virginia Ruth. Not many call her Virginia in our family. She will always, with much affection, be known as Ginger or Aunt Ginger. My Dad for some reason, again with much affection in his voice, named her ” Squeaky.” We called her “Squeaky-ma-jew” when I was in grade school, thinking of the brave Indian woman, “Saca-jew-Whee-a” Ginger never minded and always smiled when she was beckoned.
My little-little sister, with another very pretty name, Elaine Mary, became “Laney” and is know by her nieces and nephews as Aunt Laney. I love her name and have always referred to her as Elaine.
My little-little brother’s name is James David known as Jimmy when he was younger, but now is Jim. But once in a while, I can recall my Mom, in a rather loud voice, calling him “James David!”
I referred to my Dad and Mom as “John and Loretta” because all of their friend did! One day Dad bent over, looking into my 6 year old eyes and gentle but firmly told me I was to say “Dad and Mom, NOT John and Loretta.” I took that very seriously and corrected my good friend Jeannie Bush, when her parents Max and Clara Mae came to visit us. She referred to them as “John and Loretta,” and I corrected her, telling her “that’s Mom and Dad.” And so Jeannie started calling them “Mom and Dad!” It sure gets confusing when you are little and trying to please!!
God Bless Our United States of America!
