Doc to Dot

My mother’s name is Wilma Frances, but no one calls her by either of those names. Everyone knows her by the nickname “Dot.” 

The first time my dad, Pete, went to date my mother, he was driving an old school bus. It was a 1938 Chevrolet, and it was not a manufactured school bus but a makeshift one. The old truck had a flat bed with a metal cover over it. It had two seats running along each of the outside edges of the bed. This old school bus had been operated by my granddaddy for many years until he gave it to Pete when he finished high school and started working for the forestry commission.

My mother and dad were both raised on a farm, and although their homes were less than 20 miles apart, they went to different small rural schools. Pete met Dot through an introduction by a mutual friend. The first time Pete drove to Dot's house on winding gravel roads, he thought he would never get there. He was driving the old school bus, and when he finally arrived, he saw several men out in the front yard. Dot had seven brothers, and they had a reputation for being rough and tough dudes. Pete said to himself, “What have I got myself into.”

Then Dot came out on the porch, and everything was ok. He was happy that he had made the journey. He made the rounds greeting all the brothers, and as they were talking, he heard them refer to my mother as “Doc.” He thought she had been introduced to him as “Dot,” so he was confused. The brothers informed him that her nickname was indeed “Doc” because ever since she was a little girl she always bossed her older and younger brothers and sisters. It was always Doc’s way or no way. She was her mother’s favorite according to the brothers, so she was always right and never got into any trouble. Since they thought doctors were at the top of the food chain, they said she acted like she was a doctor, so they started calling her “Doc.”

At 91 years of age, my mother still gets her way in all things and still bosses everyone around. As she gets older, she does not do it with as much grace as in younger years, but we all tolerate Doc and love her and follow her orders or pay the consequences!

By the way, Pete did not want to date someone named “Doc,” so he continued calling her Dot during their 72 years of marriage.