Re: [gardeners] Definately one word. ;-)

Matt Trahan (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Sun, 18 Oct 1998 17:00:00 -0400 

>Date: Sat, 17 Oct 1998 08:15:25 -0700
>From: George Shirley <gshirley@iamerica.net>
>Subject: Re: [gardeners] Definately one word. ;-)
>
>> >Yeah, they were good too, I was stationed in Newport, RI for well over a
>> >year. Rock beaches, cold water, good fishing, rock fences, rock houses,
>> >rock barns, rock soup. Lots of rocks.
>> 
>> Yep, don't miss digging through them in the garden! But I do miss the low
>> stone walls, jumping from the rocky outcroppings into the ocean, Buildings
>> built of field stone, etc.
>
>Wait a minute, you actually deliberately jumped into the ocean up there?
>I fell in once and nearly froze to death and that was in August. You da
>man if you swam in the Atlantic in New England. ;-)

Naw, we just didn't know any better. Who said Yankee's are smart? ;-) 60-65
in late August is something we used to look forward to.
 Latter on I was stationed on a Coast Guard cutter that went down to Gitmo,
Cuba. MAN, now THAT'S water!

>> 
>>  I was also totally amazed at the
>> >Acadian folk who had dropped off around Pawtucket on the trip to
Louisiana.
>> >Were your ancestors originally French Acadians or what?
>> 
>>  Almost garunteed. They were originally from Pawtucket and Central Falls.
>> My folks now live in Seekonk, Ma. It shares a border with Pawtucket, RI.
>> 
>>  Never considered the overall French connection till I moved down here and
>> a number of people asked if I had family in La.
>>  I haven't looked into it too hard, but Trahan doesn't end in eaux. ;-)
>> Never understood how it was derived from French. Closest association I've
>> ever heard was on the history channel, with an early Roman Emporer named
>> Trajan.
>
>Very large number of Trahans around here, pronounced Traw Han. Some of
>them claim to be of Irish descent way back. Could be, as many Irish
>rebels ran to Catholic France to get away from the English. Used to know
>a Trahan whose first name was Murphy, thought that was unusual until I
>moved here where Murphy is a common first name. Go figure.

 We usually pronounce it Tra-in, with a silent H. Others pronounce it
TrayHan(silent D, sometimes), Trahan(without your W), or any way they can
mangle it. Your pronounciation is common down here, maybe the combination
of a difficult name and a southern accent?
 I now get a kick out of names that are even worse to pronounce than ours.

THANK YOU! That will fill in a few gaps. Never understood how it could be
from a French derivation.
 And I guess that means I'm no longer our only Irishman in the family. ;-)
(I was adopted at birth, been milking the St Patty's day fun for years.
Always get a card from mom and dad.)
>
>> 
>> >> After my inlaws got married they lived in Rhode Island and Mass for 40
>> >years. (not 27 as previously written)
>> >> When he moved down here I suggested he milk the Tejas connection for all
>> >>it's worth. His wife and the rest of us Yankee's will just have to
struggle
>> >>through life. ;-)
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>Matt Trahan  <matttrahan@ecsu.campus.mci.net> or <garden@juno.com>
>> >>USDA zone 8, AHS heat zone 7, Sunset zone 31, northeastern N.C.
>> >>
>> >It's surprising how tolerant we southerners are of Yankees. Most of us
>> >figure it isn't your fault that you weren't born in the south. Texans are
>> >the worse ones of the lot, we truly pity folk who weren't born in Texas.
>> <VBG>
>> >
>> >George
>> >
>> 
>> Hmmm, why would *you* pity *us*?! <vbg>  and does this border on discussing
>> religion? <VVBG>
>> 
>> Matt - a 'recent'immagrant (less than 3 generations ;-))
>> Matt Trahan  <matttrahan@ecsu.campus.mci.net> or <garden@juno.com>
>> USDA zone 8, AHS heat zone 7, Sunset zone 31, northeastern N.C.
>
>For some Texans being Texan is a religion, generally you find out they
>moved to Texas from Michigan or some place and read too many magazine
>stories about how Texans dress and act. Most of us are just plain folks,
>shoot I don't own a Western hat or boots and wouldn't be caught dead in
>them. Short fat guys don't look good dressed western.
>
>George
>
hahahaha, read the same thing in a short story once. "The 'perfect' looking
native is usually a transplant trying too hard." Guess it's just a matter
of trying to fit in.
 I remember when we lived in Hawaii and I was heading back to Mass to visit
family. Had a layover in Dallas-Ft Worth. Spent an hour watching 'cowboys'
in hats and trail coats wandering back and forth.
 Since I had just come from slippa's and jams(flip flops and shorts cut
just above the knee) and was heading to December's version of preppyville,
it was the perfect midpoint culture shock.

 But do you own a Sombrero? ;-)

Matt Trahan  <matttrahan@ecsu.campus.mci.net> or <garden@juno.com>
USDA zone 8, AHS heat zone 7, Sunset zone 31, northeastern N.C.