Lend me your ear…

I’ve just finally figured out how to cross-post to a variety of blogs at the same time.  After two days of trying various thing, I’ve settled on using Windows Live Writer, a free blogging program from Bill Gates and friends, combined with a plug-in called xPollinate.  Basically, I write in Live Writer, then use the plug-in to post at sundry places around the Net.  Sounds easy?  Let’s see if it works!

I’ve also decided to use the opportunity to give my blog a snazzier name, hence Peter’s Ear, which, I suppose,  requires some explanation.

Back when my Dad, Martin, was alive and I was but a teen,  we’d chat about this and that and everything.  At some point the meaning of our last name, Petrucha, came up.  He was born in a small town called Knezdub in what was then Czechoslovakia.  A few generations before that, the family was Russian.

He was never exactly sure what Petrucha meant, but to him it sounded roughly like the Russian for “Peter’s Ear.”   An online phonetic Russian dictionary tells me “ear” is “ooshnoy” in Russian.   Peter, I assume is roughly the same, so “Peterooshnoy.”  Close enough, but what does Peter’s ear mean?

I don’t count myself a member of any organized religion, but I’ve spent time studying as many as possible.  I’ve found many beautiful and moving things in all the sacred books I’ve encountered, as well as things that didn’t sit well with me.  In  the end I prefer not to label my beliefs, but that’s another story.

As for the name, Dad felt it was in reference to Chapter 18 of the Gospel according to John.  When Jesus is about to be arrested thanks to the betrayal of Judas, one of his disciples, Simon Peter, draws his sword and slices an ear off Malchus, a servant of the high priests.  Jesus tells Peter to put the sword away, and in some variations on the story, graciously spits on the ear and sticks it back on Malchus.

I could never figure out if we were named after the ear or Peter.  Better yet, maybe we’re named after the concept of non-violence.

Is the translation accurate?  Does it relate to the biblical story?  I dunno, but that’s what my Dad said, and I like the sound of it, so, Peter’s Ear.