NICKNAMES

A Chronological LIST

RyRy
Ryan Stinker
Rink
Rinky
Rinkbone 666
Rusty
Rion
Little Morrissey
Little R
Drinker
Sir Saturday Night his Royal Magistrate
The Sweet Prince
Prince of Pacific Ave.
Double R
Ry Guy
Reek
Nutters

A STORY

1999, Santa Cruz, 102 Otis St.

This one day I was sweeping the front steps of my place when a bearded fellow walked up and started talking to me. “Rusty,” he said! “Rusty,” what’s up man? I haven’t seen you in days. Where ya been? “Um, around, I’m just kicking it on my day off.” Under my breath I whispered “Do we know each other?”
On and on in a stoney daze he spoke to me as if we were the bestest of buds. “You gonna help me fix up the van later? You helping me sell on Saturday at the flea market? Let’s go on a bike ride later,” he rambled. I nodded my head in disbelief as he went on and on about who knows what. As he left, I waived, said goodbye and figured I never see him again.
The next day at work and almost religiously for six years I saw this man. Sometimes he would remember me and sometimes he wouldn’t. We never spoke of our first interaction, but sometimes I remember it, vividly and as almost a welcoming to the beautifully quirky town of Santa Cruz.