When Names Speak

22nd May 2006, Singapore - Names connote so much. The country of origin of this blog is Singapore. "Singapore" conjurs images of its founding father, you think of Michael Fay, the society that imposes severe penalties on drug traffickers, its stringent checks on chewing gum, its swanking malls and spanking clean streets. How about Sydney? Yes, the often-mistaken capital city of Australia. The imposing structure of the Harbour Bridge or the shell-clad Opera House. (The editor reserves the right to use this text as the perfect excuse to upload some accompanying photos he took from a seaplane 1,500 feet up while on his recent trip to Sydney.)

Names make suggestions and forge associations. I checked the meaning of mine. Promise you won't laugh? (Make your vow to keep a straight face here!) So you did laugh! I know it's no where near chilvarous or profound, but I'm not blaming my brother. When he was little, he named me after a kite called Flat Stanley, and looking at the way I am today, it's no wonder the fattest I am or can ever be is: LEAN!

Synopsis:
It's a humorous tale of a boy who becomes "flat" when his bulletin board falls on him. Stanley realizes that there are several advantages to being flat, such as the ability to slide under doors, through bars, and yes, being mailed in an envelope for long trips. Stanley's older brother becomes jealous of him, and Stanley offers himself to his brother as a kite. The best part of Stanley's "flat" period is when he is able to catch some thieves in the local museum. People eventually begin to make fun of Stanley, and he tires of being flat. A solution is found by his brother. His brother uses a bicycle pump to make Stanley round again.

Etymology is an interesting field of study. What does your name mean? More importantly, what, who and where do you allow people to associate you with?

So it doesn't matter if your name means 'gazelle', 'blessed', 'beautiful' or 'Yahweh has given', your life and choices weigh so much more.

Names speak about you only to a certain degree,
but it's your life that leaves a legacy.

[Copyright. The Newsstan(d), 2006]