https://www.facebook.com/pg/DavidMeehanArt/photos/?tab=album&album_id=226052820830969 meehan99@gmail.com / 00351 969 534 520
Why d'ya say 'love' instead of 'nil' in tennis? And 'deuce'? Well they come from French. Tennis was popular with the French aristocracy in England in the 17th / 18th century and so scoring was in French. When a player had no points in the game the French would say the player had 'l'oeuf' which is French for 'the egg' ( so transl8ed i guess would be for eggsample: "Henrique 'as 15 and Jean 'as the egg" ) U gotta admit l'oeuf sounds just like 'love'. So I guess it's sort of a mishearing inspiration.
And while we're at it 'deuce' is an adaption of 'two' in French = 'deux' to say both players have the same points - well only when it's 40 all that is. ....Which reminds me- wot's with the crazy 15, 30, 40?? Well the scoreboard was originally a clock so it's simply the minute hands every quarter hour - ok so 45 gets changed to 40. And then 'o'clock' is - voilá : game. C'est formidable, non?
2: Read the story of how Graçinda got her unusual name in a sad story. 3: Do u want me to draw YOU?
https://www.facebook.com/pg/DavidMeehanArt/photos/?tab=album&album_id=226052820830969
meehan99@gmail.com / 00351 969 534 520
Name Stories: 1: 'Love' as a tennis score was 'inspired' from a: a romance, b: an egg, c: a sweet name not to upset the losing player?
'Love' as a tennis score was 'inspired' from a: a romance, b: an egg, c: a sweet name not to upset the losing player?
Why d'ya say 'love' instead of 'nil' in tennis? And 'deuce'? Well they come from French. Tennis was popular with the French aristocracy in England in the 17th / 18th century and so scoring was in French. When a player had no points in the game the French would say the player had 'l'oeuf' which is French for 'the egg' ( so transl8ed i guess would be for eggsample: "Henrique 'as 15 and Jean 'as the egg" ) U gotta admit l'oeuf sounds just like 'love'. So I guess it's sort of a mishearing inspiration.
And while we're at it 'deuce' is an adaption of 'two' in French = 'deux' to say both players have the same points - well only when it's 40 all that is. ....Which reminds me- wot's with the crazy 15, 30, 40?? Well the scoreboard was originally a clock so it's simply the minute hands every quarter hour - ok so 45 gets changed to 40. And then 'o'clock' is - voilá : game. C'est formidable, non?
2: Read the story of how Graçinda got her unusual name in a sad story. 3: Do u want me to draw YOU?
https://www.facebook.com/pg/DavidMeehanArt/photos/?tab=album&album_id=226052820830969
meehan99@gmail.com / 00351 969 534 520
Greçinda
So anyway we got talking - the receptionist and me about wotever and then i saw her name badge which said 'Greçinda'.
'Hmm ... Greçinda - I've never heard that name b4"
"No," she said " Me neither - except for the person I was named after"
"So was that Greçinda a friend of the family?" I asked.
And Greçinda the recepionist told me such an incredible story it influenced me to write this collection of how some people were given their names.
Greçinda's mother, Luz, had been sent over from Angola to escape the war but her parents had to stay there. Luz was the only black student in a girls' convent which meant many of the students and even some of the nuns used this as an excuse to ridicule her. Then, to make things more complicated, she got herself pregnant and this made Luz feel an outcast. She felt very sad and lonely. When she was feeling most dejected one the French teacher asked her to wait after class. Luz liked the French teacher, sister Greçinda who wasn't like the rest - she was gentle and helpful.
"I hear u'r pregnant," said the sister when the other pupils had gone.
"Even sister Greçinda is gonna have a go. I thought at least she was different." But sister Greçinda was different and said warmly "congratulations Luz" Finally some words of support.
"Do you know if it's a girl or a boy? Have you thought of a name? Your mother and father must be very proud"
"My dad died in the war. Um... my mum...," But Luz got too choked to continue.
"I'm so sorry to hear about your father," said sister Greçinda. "Maybe if it's a boy u could name her after your father. And if it's a girl u could name her after your mum."
"U don't understand sister," said Luz fighting back the tears. "My mum says I have bought shame on the family. She doesn't want to hear from me again. I can't use her name. A baby without grandparents - without even a name," Luz said and hot tears ran down her face. The sister wanted to comfort Luz.
"Well, um... how about if it's a girl you could use my name. I mean just if you like of course... I would certainly consider it an honour."
At that Luz was in floods of tears. She and the sister hugged and Luz said if it were a girl she would love to call the baby Greçinda.
Some months later in October Luz gave birth to a girl and named her Greçinda Maria Ferreira.
"So what's sister Greçinda like?" I asked
"I only met her once - the day I was born. Which was the day she died"
"What?! So she must've been old - heart attack i guess?"
"Oh no - she was in her early thirties as it goes"
"... but - then how....?"
"Well sister Greçinda would help everyone and in her spare time she even worked in the maternity ward. She was working there the day I was born - the only baby in the hospital. In the middle of the nite there was a huge fire. With flames everywhere but without a thought for herself she rushed in and grabbed me out of my cot. But as she did so her nun's habit caught fire. She was killed. She died so i might live."
Thru our tears I told Greçinda i would tell the story. But Greçinda insisted I should change the names - she said even tho they'd only seen each other that one nite she felt she knew her and was sure it's how the sister would have wanted it.
So at the receptionist's request i've changed 1 or 2 details including the actual name
At the receptionist's request i've changed 1 or 2 details including the actual name
If u have a story behind your name and wanna be drawn plz get in touch: meehan99@gmail.com // WhatsApp: 00351 969 534 520
more name stories > https://www.facebook.com/pg/DavidMeehanArt/photos/?tab=album&album_id=226052820830969
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