This is a meme that I got from Jade Park’s blog who got it from someone else’s who got it from someone else’s ad finitum. I am thinking of ten things I like that start with the same letter. My assigned letter is “H”
1. Hmmm. That is the first word that comes to my mind, and I was going to say that I couldn’t think of anything except for I would say Hmmm classifies as a word, and I like to say Hmmm a lot. It’s really an American sort of nothing word which is meant to mean hold on, I’m thinking…Sort of like “pues” in Spanish. Hmmm is not to be confused with mmmmm, as in how tastey that meal was, or mmmhmmmm, a sort of lazy yes, or uh-uh, a sort of lazy word for no. Mastering all of these subtle mumbles are pre-requisites for living in California, and some would say for living on the West Coast at all.
2. Haute. I don’t quite know what this word means. But it generally is attached to things, products, furniture, wedding gowns, articles of clothing, houses, hotels, that are very stylish and pretty to look at, but are also very ’spensive. I’m actually not sure how I feel about this word. Maybe I don’t like it. Well—let’s just say I like looking at it but I don’t want to be bound by it. But I must say, it is pretty. I’m on the fence.
3. Helping. I like to help other people who need it when I can. It makes me feel important, as if I have something to give them. Gives me something to do. Keeps me busy. (When I think of it. Sometimes I suck and don’t help as much as I could have..but for the most part I try to be helpful.
4. Humility. The most beautiful quality in a person. The quality that I greatly admire. The thing I struggle with trying to understand and incorportate in my life the most.
5. Humus. Did you know that Humility comes from the greek word homos, which is means humus, or dirt, or earth. So a humble person is lowly like the earth. I haven’t checked my facts on this one. Could not be true. But I like the idea of earth, it’s pure and in it things can grow and regenerate.
6. Hospitality. I’m a Greek. Philoxenia is my middle name. Hospitality runs in my blood. The thing that turns me off the most about a person is when they don’t act hospitible to me when I am in their home. I know that some people don’t know any better, but seriously, this is a big deal. This is a requirement and the way I was raised. If someone comes to my house, I always offer them food or drink. You always offer to help people feel more comfortable in your home. You never ask somebody to leave if you are about to eat dinner and there is not enough…you share what you have and you order more or make more, if you have to.
7. Hellenes. While we are on the subject of Greeks, why not the classical term for the Greek people? For the most part I like
being Greek. It’s so much a part of who I am, even though I grew up in the US. It gives me flavor. That’s what I am. Since I’ve been told my some I can’t call myself a woman of color, even though I so identify with the woman of color writers I know, but since I am not accepted fully into the club, I deem myself now and forever a…woman of flavor. A true Hellenida. Must come from a country with flavorful food to join, please, and must be a woman at the time of joining. Please check the appropriate box. Sorry…I’m getting off on a strangely political topic. But, that’s me. I’m horrible, aren’t I? Hmmm. How do I get back? oh yeah….hmmm.. I’ll let that be my focus word.
then there’s…
8. Hemp. Does this really need explaining, folks? If so, click here.
9. Holiday. Oh, I can’t wait until president’s weekend. What am I going to do, you ask?…well I have no idea. But I love to do nothing and travel to far off places and bask in the sun. And wade in the water. I wish it was summer already.
10. Halva. I was having a hard time thinking about this last one. And then I realized that it was on the tip of my tongue. Literally on the tip of my tongue. It’s Halva, a kind of candy/pastry delicacy that my husband bought. Usually sold in Middle Eastern stores, the Greek store, etc. My favorite is Macedonian Halva. From Macedonia, where my father is from. (By Macedonia I mean the original Macedonia…The Greek Macedonia…not the Former Yugoslav. Republic of Macedonia or FYROM named by Tito in the 1940’s as a plot to try to lay false claims to the port of Thessaloniki.)
5 responses so far ↓
Canterbury Soul // February 14, 2007 at 5:35 am |
I learned a lot from this post. You’re right. ‘Humus’ equates to rich soil. As low and dirty as soil, yet rich. I guess that speaks volume for the word ‘humility’ – something that extremely few people in this world can truly achieve.
Thanks for the lessons!
mel // February 14, 2007 at 9:50 am |
I liked this list! Especially 5, 6, and 8.
Lao Ren Cha // February 17, 2007 at 6:03 am |
Heheh…and “kimono” comes from the Greek, because you wear a robe when you’re cold in the χειμώνα (khimona), right?
Actually, neither “humus” nor “humlity” is derived from the Greek word χώμα (khoma), but it’s true that those two words are related. “Humility” comes to us via the Latin word “humilitas” (meaning “lowness” or “insignificance”), and “humus” is from the Latin word “humus” (meaning “soil” or “earth”). Both Latin words are derived from the Indo-European root, dhghem- (“earth”), as are the English words “human,” “homicide,” “exhume,” etc. The Greek cognate from that same Indo-European root is “khamai,” from which we get “chameleon.”
The Greek word χώμα (khoma), however, comes from the Chaldean word “comah,” which was a circular hill or mound of dirt.
wildguppy // February 17, 2007 at 11:20 am |
Lao Ren Cha — Funny! You understand my humor and you must have seen the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding! And thanks for the clarification and you have caught me in a false cognate situation, much like the dad in My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
Yes…this is an interesting etymology…but the Greek word χώμα does have the meaning of soil or earth. So I made the connection (wrongly) that it was related to humility via the Greek word. But could it be a Latin influece that got into the Greek during the time of the Roman Empire?
You are right…humility in Greek is ταπεινότητα, (according to the dictionary, but I thought it was ταπεινoσύνη from my Greek class) not related to the same root at all as the Latin. (I just learned this in Greek class the other day!)
You must be a linguist. Thank you for clarifying and educating.
A Dozen Things I Like « 100 Blogging Babes // March 16, 2007 at 12:19 pm |
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