Feelin’ the need for a lil’ levity up in here, so I’m gonna take on the most FAQ of my life – How did you get the name Cookie? Just between you and me, I am named after this man:

Edd Byrnes. This is actually the first time I’ve ever seen a pic of the fella. He’s cute enough, I guess. Do we resemble at all? No, we shouldn’t. He’s not my dad or anything. He starred in a TV show entitled 77 Sunset Strip, which ran from 1958-1964. The hunky star, whose character was named Kookie, must have made an impression on my pre-pubescent mom because I am his namesake. When the ‘rents had the proverbial bun in the oven (i.e., me) they called it their lil’ cookie. To my knowledge, they never intended for the name to stick at my birth, but it did. Ole Edd has a hit single entitled “Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb)” that you can download on Itunes or check out in my sidebar. A must-have for any playlist! He was quite the predecessor to the metrosexual – perfectly styled and coifed ‘do at all times.

My maiden name was Eaddy. A most unfortunate pairing. I’ve heard “Eaddy all the cookie” more than once in my day. Certainly there were times I longed to be called Susan or Jane or Sara, but I have grown into Cookie.

As a flirty high school and college student, I tucked my chin, tilted my head, batted my lashes and swore in my most Southern drawl that I was named Cookie because I was sooooo sweet. Huh!

After graduating from college and accepting my first teaching position at TL Hanna (yes, the movie Radio should ring a bell), I declared my name to be Sheila. I abhorred that decision. I really did not know who she was, nor did I like her.

I love being Cookie. People remember my name. They are interested at best, puzzled at worst, why a 35 year-old mom chooses to be called Cookie. I didn’t really choose it, but I love being the ole’ Cookmeister.