Perhaps in the future I'll entertain more petitions. I certainly hope to. However, I haven't received any since Tainted. Until more questions arise, I'll have to fill this space with other diversions.
I've decided a good start is to explore the universal Mary. Let's begin with an exploration of the name Mary.
According to www.behindthename.com, "Mary" can trace her roots through Latin and Greek to the Hebrew name Miryam. Mary's exact meaning is uncertain, but guesses range from "sea of bitterness" to "beloved."
That doesn't surprise me in the least. In English, Mary is one of the most indispensable female names; 100 years ago, it was the most popular girl's name, and basically held that title for more than half a century. It still ranks in the top 100 (according to the Social Security Association: http://ssa.gov/cgi-bin/babyname.cgi).
Of course such an enduring women's name captures something elemental about the women it identifies. We can swim in a sea of bitterness and still be called beloved. These meanings are not mutually exclusive. We are experts at contradiction, and our name can't be pinned down any more than we can. It keeps things interesting, certainly. And you thought Mary was so basic!
