P is for Paga

P is one of my favorite letters. It could be because my name starts with P, but so many fun words start with P, like peninsula and petunia.  Some of my favorite foods also start with P, like peanut butter and popcorn. But for today's blog....P is for Paga. 

Paga is a nickname I was given back in high school, but the assistant manager at Einstein Bagels.  I came in one day and he had given us all new names on our name tags. I was Paga de Paga.  Right about that time, the Mackey's finally got internet at our house and I needed an email address handle. The only other nickname I had up until that point was Hot Rock, given to me by my Daddy and Mackey or Mack.  I didn't want to use either of those so I chose paga215, 2 and 15 being my favorite numbers.  Then, the summer after my freshman year of college, I went to work for YMCA Camp Lakewood, in Potosi, MO.  The counselors did not go by their real names at all. Everyone on staff was called by a nickname.  All week, the kids would try to guess our real names.  So for 4 summers of my life, I was Paga.  I remember going back to the University of Arkansas each fall and not repsonding to my real name. Even one time, after some alcohol was consumed, I even introduced myself as Paga at a party. 

Until October of last year, when I got married, the plates on my car were personalized to Paga. This reminds me, I need to look into getting Missouri Paga plates!  I love that there are people in my life that still call me Paga. I love that still run into old campers and co workers that call me Paga. Julia Noack, my wedding photographer, was my co counselor in 2000.  She would call me Paga during some of my photo sessions when not thinking.  I in turn called her Verne!