Showing Real Class

Wow, Patrick. That is an extremely moving story. Thank you for pointing us to it.

Thanks for sharing this touching story.

Wow! Classy is an understatement. Thanks for sharing Patrick.

Patrick, you live up to your name.

Thank you.
dr.e

What does Patrick's name mean? (Hi, I'm Kathy; I'm clueless!)

Dear KK, thank you for asking! Patrick, -patricio, patrician... originally meaning one of the best minds of an old long established line that ruled small farmlands, and outbacks. It appears to be related to patria, meaning not just the paterfamilias, but one of a bit more wisdom and memory than those younger.

Then there was St. Patrick who was thought to have through the power of pure prayer to have rid a countryside of an infestation of snakes that ate livestock and eggs used to sustain the people normally.



Then, the word 'Patrician' devolved over the years, as, it seems, more and more 'patricians' began to rule and war and try to 'own' entire peoples without regard for wisdom or patering/ fathering in benevolent ways.



Some speculate that this deterioration amongst the small-village patricians was due to marauders who killed off the wiser elders who'd normally hand down the ways of being in the styles that seemed most profitable and peaceable, and instead leaving the younger embittered and unlearned, to find their own ways during a long occupation. (as we know, this is not only a modern circumstance).

I know it sounds funny, but PTSD is not modern; it is ancient response to shock and horror... and can cause people to turn from peace to anguished violence for generations after. And in the conquerers, often a new kind of 'patricia' rises up, which is based on 'only I am pure' and you are not, you filthy less than a dog man.'

However, here I meant the original meaning of Patrick, as in one who has a share of wisdom earned, and gives it out as nourishment. A big name to live up to. Most all of us have those kinds of names...names to grow into.

Ancient meanings of names is just an interest of mine from having been driven into Latin studies as a Catholic child. Some things stay and stay. lol.

dr.e

Okay, of course, now that you say it... lol. It makes perfect sense. I can see how the name Patrick would have evolved from the word "patrician." I just would not have thought of it on my own.

Thank you for that lovely explanation. :-)