View Message

I met a Bill my own age as a young teenager. I thought it was pretty unusual then as well. I think at that time, most boys named after their fathers, William and Robert, got Billy or Will or Bobby or Rob/Robby, because Dad was Bill or Bob. (I know one Bill who was Billy growing up because his father was Bill; he is often called Ted by the family because his middle name is Theodore. His own son is Billy, but the plan was to call him Trey, since he was the third William Theodore. But for some reason it never took.)

---

My nephew is Robert and he's nine. He goes by both Robert and Bobby in general, but in the family he's often Bobert, which is Valerie's nn for him when he was a baby.

---

So if I met a little Bill or Bob I think it would sound kind of funny, but also nice.

---

Before you criticize a man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, when you criticize him, you're a mile away and you have his shoes!
Steve Martin