The There There Letter: Kith, Kiss, and Kindle
Three things from DAH.
DAH is me, David Anthony Hance. I write, organize, plan, produce, manage, direct, act, sing, promote, and make change (not the coin kind).
First up this week, Kith …
Kith, as in kith and kin. More than just your parents and siblings and offspring. These Middle English derived words from the 14th Century join friends with family. Kith and kin sounds so much more poetic than the modern coinage "framily." But however I describe them, they are essential to me. My blood family wasn't large to begin with, and with my parents' generation going, going, I'm left with two cousins in England and two brothers in the USA (one in Washington State, one in Texas). And but a single genetic offspring from we five. My extended family (through marriage) and my close friends are my essential kith and kin. And, as some of you near and dear have heard me say, we're probably related anyway.
Study: BFFs May Have Similar DNA
Second up this week, Kiss …
Hugging was always common with my kith and kin. "Was" because the pandemic is changing up that sort of behavior, sadly. Within my once-hugging kith and kin there was a subset of kissers. I used to think it was just some of my theater friends because it's men and women and not untowardly flirtatious. But upon consideration that isn't the case. Perhaps we're just more closely related, somehow. Early Christians sometimes greeted one another with a holy kiss, a transfer of spirit. That seems pretty great to me. I could certainly use some sharing of spirit these days, with those I hold dear. Or at least a hug. Sigh. Maybe one day.
The History of Kissing
Third up this week, Kindle …
Amazon's Kindle project was named Fiona until branding consultants suggested the idea of lighting a fire: kindle. I was chatting with a dear friend about when we choose to read on our Amazon Kindle e-book readers, and when we prefer real books. We were pretty closely aligned. The Kindle is handy when traveling light, or when sharing a bedroom with someone who prefers lights out on the early side. For me, that means using the Kindle for light fiction, and real books for everything else. I prefer the heft and smell and look of a real book. I can flip back and forth between sections and pages with ease, deploy multiple place markers, and easily share the book with kith and kin. I like to check where the book was printed, made, and by whom, and what fonts and papers they chose. I take much more pride of connection in my physical library (rather than my digital one). If I were to hug a book, I'd choose hardcover with paper pages over my Kindle. I can see several books on the shelves around me I'd be happy to hug. I expect it's because we're closely related.
I've Stopped Comparing My Kindle to My Books
And a bit more … "plenilune" is a new word to me, and I don't find Capuchin monks all that funny, but the rhyme is good.
What Counsel Has the Hooded Moon, by James Joyce
What counsel has the hooded moon
Put in thy heart, my shyly sweet,
Of Love in ancient plenilune,
Glory and stars beneath his feet --
A sage that is but kith and kin
With the comedian Capuchin?
Believe me rather that am wise
In disregard of the divine,
A glory kindles in those eyes
Trembles to starlight. Mine, O Mine!
No more be tears in moon or mist
For thee, sweet sentimentalist.
That's all for this week.
From Mary Oliver's poem "Sometimes" …
DAH is me, David Anthony Hance. I write, organize, plan, produce, manage, direct, act, sing, promote, and make change (not the coin kind).
First up this week, Kith …
Kith, as in kith and kin. More than just your parents and siblings and offspring. These Middle English derived words from the 14th Century join friends with family. Kith and kin sounds so much more poetic than the modern coinage "framily." But however I describe them, they are essential to me. My blood family wasn't large to begin with, and with my parents' generation going, going, I'm left with two cousins in England and two brothers in the USA (one in Washington State, one in Texas). And but a single genetic offspring from we five. My extended family (through marriage) and my close friends are my essential kith and kin. And, as some of you near and dear have heard me say, we're probably related anyway.
Study: BFFs May Have Similar DNA
Second up this week, Kiss …
Hugging was always common with my kith and kin. "Was" because the pandemic is changing up that sort of behavior, sadly. Within my once-hugging kith and kin there was a subset of kissers. I used to think it was just some of my theater friends because it's men and women and not untowardly flirtatious. But upon consideration that isn't the case. Perhaps we're just more closely related, somehow. Early Christians sometimes greeted one another with a holy kiss, a transfer of spirit. That seems pretty great to me. I could certainly use some sharing of spirit these days, with those I hold dear. Or at least a hug. Sigh. Maybe one day.
The History of Kissing
Third up this week, Kindle …
Amazon's Kindle project was named Fiona until branding consultants suggested the idea of lighting a fire: kindle. I was chatting with a dear friend about when we choose to read on our Amazon Kindle e-book readers, and when we prefer real books. We were pretty closely aligned. The Kindle is handy when traveling light, or when sharing a bedroom with someone who prefers lights out on the early side. For me, that means using the Kindle for light fiction, and real books for everything else. I prefer the heft and smell and look of a real book. I can flip back and forth between sections and pages with ease, deploy multiple place markers, and easily share the book with kith and kin. I like to check where the book was printed, made, and by whom, and what fonts and papers they chose. I take much more pride of connection in my physical library (rather than my digital one). If I were to hug a book, I'd choose hardcover with paper pages over my Kindle. I can see several books on the shelves around me I'd be happy to hug. I expect it's because we're closely related.
I've Stopped Comparing My Kindle to My Books
And a bit more … "plenilune" is a new word to me, and I don't find Capuchin monks all that funny, but the rhyme is good.
What Counsel Has the Hooded Moon, by James Joyce
What counsel has the hooded moon
Put in thy heart, my shyly sweet,
Of Love in ancient plenilune,
Glory and stars beneath his feet --
A sage that is but kith and kin
With the comedian Capuchin?
Believe me rather that am wise
In disregard of the divine,
A glory kindles in those eyes
Trembles to starlight. Mine, O Mine!
No more be tears in moon or mist
For thee, sweet sentimentalist.
That's all for this week.
From Mary Oliver's poem "Sometimes" …
Instructions for living a life:
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.
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