Family Tradition

My grandfather on my mom's side carried the last name, Prunty. It is nice to know the ancestry was traced and to know I am Irish, not just on St. Patrick's Day. I was told as a child that we were related to the Bronte sisters, but didn't know just how much Irish was in our family until after my grandfather had passed away and the genealogy books were given to us. Hopefully one day I can travel to Ireland and trace more of the family heritage. 

Sláinte!

Prunty Coat of Arms / Prunty Family Crest

This surname of PRUNTY is the anglicized form of the Gaelic O'Proinntigh, a personal name meaning bestower, generous. This east Ulster name is better known as BRONTE. Other spellings include BRUNTY and PRONTY. It is an Ulster Gaelic surname appearing in the 17th century County Monaghan Hearth Money Rolls as O'PROUNTY, chiefly in the barony of Cremorne and in those of County Armagh as O'PRUNTY. Ireland is one of the earliest sources of the development of patronymic names in northern Europe. Irish Clan or bynames can be traced back to the 4th century B.C. and Mac (son of) and O (grandson or ancestor of) evolved from this base, the original literal meaning of which has been lost due to the absence of written records and linguistic ambivalences which subtly but inexorably became adopted through usage. Genealogists and lexographers accept that the patronymic base does not refer to a location, quite the contrary. The use of the prefix 'Bally' (town of) attaching to the base name, identifying the location. The base root was also adopted by people residing in the demographic area without a common ancestor. These groups called 'Septs' were specially prevalent in Ireland. The first Normans arrived in Ireland in the 12th and 13th centuries to form an alliance with the King of Leinster. Under Elizabeth I in the 16th century, settlers from England established themselves around Dublin, then under English control and Presbyterian Scots emigrated to Ulster, introducing English and Scottish roots. The ancestor of the three famous women novelists Charlotte BRONTE (1816-1855), Anne BRONTE (1820-1849) and Emily Jane BRONTE (1818-1848) was Patrick O'PRUNTY, the Ulster Gaelic poet; their father was the Rev. Patrick BRONTE, who was the son of Hugh PRUNTY, a small farmer in County Down. The lion depicted in the arms is the noblest of all wild beasts which is made to be the emblem of strength and valour, and is on that account the most frequently borne in Coat-Armour.

I Can See Clearly Now...

So, I did it. I went and purchased a new iMac...and OOOHHH how I LOVE it. I mean, it's true love. Capital L. More than love. Super love. I wasn't going to buy another one, but dad accidentally tripped over my laptop cord. The sequence of events was quite hilarious. Dad trips, knocks over a glass of water, saves the glass from breaking and saved his beer. LOL. The laptop crashed to the wood floor, but managed to avoid getting wet. I thought this must be a sign that I need a new computer now...not later. The techs were able to get the pieces of cable out of the laptop and download the data on to the new computer. I'm thankful for that. I still haven't decided what to do with the old laptop though. Maybe donate or send it back for recycling. I don't want to buy a new cord & battery since the OS on it is sooo outdated. It's not really worth it. Besides, why do I need a laptop when I have a smartphone? 

That's What Friends Are For

I've been fighting a nasty sinus infection for over a week now. I even broke down & went to the doctor for meds. It's slowly getting better, but I had been cooped up in my apartment for the holiday weekend going stir crazy. Thankfully I received a last minute text yesterday for a pool gathering. Nothing too exciting...just some snacks/BYOB, etc. I wasn't sure I would be up for it, but once I got there, it was like medicine to be around my friends. I got to see my friend's baby, Evelynn, who is a little over a year. She's such a ham & I love it. She isn't afraid to be around any of us & spent her time going back and forth between auntie Jena and uncle Doug since we were the first ones there. I enjoyed the time away from home. The weather was amazing today. Great friends really do a wonderful job of helping you forget you ever felt crummy in the first place.

I'm Walking On Sunshine

Reflecting on Mother's Day and what my mom went through with cancer really brings me down. She struggled for years through surgery, chemo and radiation. I don't know how she fought as long as she did, which brings me to little miss Ainslee. From the time I heard the news of her cancer, I kept thinking "not her", "not this family", "not again". She's 5...5! I can't imagine all she's been through. Well, I can but only because it's what my mom when through. There are many days when I wish I could trade my own life just so my mom could be alive. I know I can't do that so instead I will focus my positive energy on Ainslee. I have to say how thrilled I am that her cat scan showed no cancer. I cried when I saw Beth's text to all of us and again when I read the blog post today. Words cannot describe my relief for the family. Keep fighting little one because you fill us all with hope...and we all can use a little bit of that right now. Love you Herb Family! xoxoxo