Storytelling is meaning.
Storytelling is about recalling past events and linking past to the present, so that we can, perhaps, be prepared for the future. Storytelling is not a mirror that reflects directly, but more like a prism that refracts; a medium that colors whatever is viewed through it.
I was named Martha in honor of my mother’s special friend or so the story goes…I don’t recall, but my sister Louise says it’s so. A week ago, I was blessed by the birth of twin granddaughters: Olivia Aldrin and Phoebe Becket….They will laugh when they learn the origin of their names. For many months the family has lovingly referred to them as A & B as indicated on many sonograms that reflected their tiny growing shapes. Their middle names reflect their parents’ heroes.
Is there a story in your name? Share your story.
Author Chun Yu.....begins her tale of the Chinese Cultural Revolution with the story of her name…precious jade worn close to the heart. Read additional excerpts from her book at: http://www.simonsays.com/content/book.cfm?tab=1&pid=503965&agid=2
Interview with the author:
Little Green -- Xiao Qing --
was the name they gave me.
Qing, the green
of tree leaves in early spring,
of clear water in a deep pond,
my baba said;
of beautiful youth,
the evergreen of life,
my mama said;
and of precious jade worn close to the heart,
my nainai said.
1 comment:
I received my name before I was born. My father was a teacher in a small town in Kansas. During my mother's pregnancy, and just prior to my birth, students of my father gave me my name. They were excited for my father. I guess they had time on their hands to think and talk about this thing. For reasons I was never made aware of, I was named after a fictional character Herkimer, the lonely doll! My father could never fully explain their reasoning. But the name stuck, and even though my parents gave me a more formal name, after people in our family, I still go by Herk.
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