Thinking About My Dad

Isn't it strange at the odd times loved ones who have passed away come to mind?  For some reason, I was thinking about my Dad a bunch today.  He died in August of 2005, and I think that it was because of the holidays coming up that I've been missing him. 

It's his fault that I call the daily thing I post the Daily Whine & Shine.  He used to mention that he was "shining" sometimes on days when he was having a good day.

I never really thought about why he worded it that way.  But today, as I was exploring a site about our last name - Mackenzie - I may have discovered why.

The Mackenzie clan motto is: Luceo non uro, meaning "I shine, not burn."

I knew that.  I have a Mackenzie pin somewhere with the motto in Latin on it, and I remember asking as a kid what the Latin words meant.  But I really had never thought about how much my dad must have identified with his heritage before.

I hope, one day, that I can visit Scotland and discover some Mackenzie relatives.

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Mackenzie comes from the Gaelic "Maccoinneach" meaning "fair, bright one" and that the MacKenzies are thought to descend from the ancient royal house of Lorn.

I love the Mackenzie plaids or tartans.