Nicknames

Ever since we have arrived in Guatemala, the locals have had the hardest time pronouncing Reade´s name. They just don´t have the "ree" sound in Spanish. So we´ve been thinking all along about what his Central American nickname could be, and have finally figured it out.

Our Guatemalan family was trying very hard one night after dinner to learn how to say Reade´s name when they asked me if he had any other names they could learn. So I explained to them that our last name is Bush. Well, as with just about everyone we meet, the inevitable explanation followed that we are not, in fact, related to the president (although it bears saying that if Reade is presented with that question, he always responds that old George is his uncle). Their response to our last name (also not uncommon in these parts), was one of distaste. So we moved onto his middle name: Walker.

Our cute little very conservative "madre", dressed in her indigenous clothes honoring her Mayan heritage, responded that the name "Walker" reminded her of the whiskey brand, Johnny Walker. (That is obviously her in the picture, standing by hours worth of laundry, including several pairs of tightie whities, hanging out to dry. Our room is upstairs, the door on the right.) Maybe you had to be there, but the fact that she knows anything at all about whiskey is hilarious. I doubt she´s had a drop of alcohol in her life. So now, they all call Reade "Whiskey". Seriously. "¡Whiskey, cena!" (translation: "Reade, dinner!") "¿Como estás, Whiskey?" (translation: "How are you, Reade?")

So next time you have a sip of whiskey, you can think of Reade. Or, the next time you see him, you can give his new nickname a try.