What’s in a Name? (Emily Addendum)

“What’s in a name?” The Bard asks us in Romeo & Juliet

Have always believed a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. At the same time, had never given it much thought. In fact, I did not even know the meaning of my own name until just last week. It made me smile (I’ll never tell).

The title of EF’s latest Attraction is “Emily,” a derivative of the medieval Roman name Aemilius which translates to “rival” or “to emulate.” And also “eager.” A suitable name for an athlete, is it not?

One thing is true of Emilys from my experience, I have never met one I did not admire. From classmates and co-workers, to famous Emilys like Emily Dickinson, Emily Blunt (a pisces) and of course my personal hero, Emily Haines of the Canadian rock band, Metric, have all danced circles around my impressionable skull. The latter is the true inspiration for this project.

Emily Haines is actually a dyed-in-the-wool Aquarius. Sun, Moon, as well as a whopping 60% of her total birth chart falls on the water-bearer’s shoulders (Aquarius is an air sign, but for the longest time I assumed it was water. Can you see why?)

Another Emily was my competition, my rival at a two-semester marketing internship in undergrad. She had the inside edge (was there first, and was also more popular) and never relinquished her stranglehold on that company’s single vacant executive position post graduation. I wasn’t bitter, being the trusting, non-competitive fur ball I am. Even after she eviscerated me I still sort of had a crush on her. And! Get this… She had… 🥁 a pet snake! (That should always be a red flag, right?😅)

Maybe there is more to a name than I previously thought. What’s your belief? And what does your name mean?

E.F.

P.S. The network says the ratings for Emily have been outstanding thus far. Tune in again this Thursday March 7, as we head back to the rink for Round 2!! “FIGHT!” A psychological ice skating montage I edited in film school feat. Emma Stone and Margot Robbie. And a hot soundtrack in Meg Myers’s cover of Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill.