Lore comes from the old English word leornian, which simply means “to learn.” It is reasonable then to include the practices of addressing and naming as a kind of lore, especially since these names are learned from others, their origins often being lost to the mists of time. For instance, I have no idea why, but Margaret’s mother, Julia Mae Maraman (my great grandmother), was known to us as "Mimi". Perhaps it was a spinoff of her middle or maiden names. As far as I’m aware, she was pleased with the sound of it, so that’s what we called her; all of us – my dad and his sister, my mom, me, my cousins, even Grandmother and Granddad (that’s what I called my dad’s father, Clarence Otho White, by the way). |
So this is why she was known to us as Grandmother Doss, though I think it might have been more accurate for us to call her Grandma Maraman. But Grandmother wouldn’t have accepted it, I am sure; and it’s quite a chore to convince others at this point. (There is lots to say about my second great grandmother, Grandmother Doss/Maraman. She was both an industrious and accomplished woman. I was kind of waiting to begin writing about her because I have yet to find that beloved picture in the oval frame. I think it must mean more to me than anyone else. Let me know if you know of its whereabouts.)