"Ave atque vale" to our Roman ancestors for so many gifts of meaning that we seem to have forgotten. We use terms like 'quid pro quo' and 'et alia,' 'id est,' and more legal terms than I can ever know, without really knowing, perhaps, what we have expressed, but a diary today by Lucius Vorenus made me think of something else . . .
It was fascinating to read all the information about age, political affiliation, and place, that Lucius asked of you. I've been the nearly complete lurker for so long, but Lucius's call - and my four years of Latin. . . called me out.
And something else happened as I read your responses. I wondered about all the diary names I saw, and had to ask: How did you arrive at your name? TeacherKen, I know why you chose your name . . . and all those who use their legal names - I'm humbled. But I wonder about the multitude of beautiful, poetic, mysterious, witty, colorful (orangeclouds?) names I read on an everday basis.
Three years ago, after Bush's second "victory", I thought there was no one to communicate with outside my immediate family who felt like we did about what was going to happen to this country we love . . . and then I discovered DailyKos - and names like Meteor Blades and Hunter and . . . and . . .
And I signed on. I'm embarrassed about how I chose my name - I simply took my initials and plugged them into the name of a folk song that fit. It happened in five seconds. I've come to wish I'd taken more time - I've thought of so many more names since then - even a "sock puppet" (sic?) name I have here on Kos that I think I've only used once - 100YearPlan. In my defense, the second name was chosen before I knew anything about the prohibitions against such a dreadful act.
Anyway, I write here to learn how you chose your name. I could list so many here that have delighted and mystified me . . . but would rather not take the time and space. Please let us all know - but understand that I can't stay long - I'm getting up early to give blood (you who have A positive - they tell me there's a big shortage right now).