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Penrod
climbed upon a barrel, stood on tiptoe,
grasped the rim of the box; then, using a knot-hole
as a stirrup, threw one leg over the top, drew himself
up, and dropped within.
Standing upon the packed sawdust, he was just tall enough to see over
the top.
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Why Penrod? All I can remember --
about books from my childhood -- is that Booth Tarkington's "Penrod"
series were books that I read over and over again.
I don't really remember the
stories, don't remember if Penrod was a childhood idol.
I do remember, however, that I
liked the books and they, along with another "magic orange filter" book
which I received when I had the measles, are high on my lis of
rememberances.
Go figure!
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 In the beginning I was born (duh).
Eighty some-odd (as
of 2015) years later here I
am trying to recapture a history that I'm sure will be marred by lapses of
memory, assumptions based upon the differences in human nature between what is
real, what is thought to be real and every frailty in between.
Why this tome?
Because I have nothing like it --
save my memory and very, very few bits and pieces of my own family's background
and history albeit good, bad, outstanding, exemplary, ordinary and/or anything
and every thing in between.
So, for whatever this is worth, and
for whomsoever might find this interesting, here goes.
The "links" above are designed to
showcase the various phases in my life that might be described as eras, or major
periods of time as I pass from birth to who knows when (and, depending on what
you believe) from beyond (assuming cremation doesn't end the process).
A few "observations" first:
The name "Siegel" appears to be
(according to Wikipedia):
As a Jewish surname Siegel (סג"ל) it could be an of Segan Levi (סגן
לוי), meaning "Assistant Levite". It signifies membership in the Hebrew
Tribe of (assistants to the Hebrew Priests in Biblical Times) as a
Levi of the second rank. It is common among Jews who are Levites.
Alternate Spellings include Segal, Siegal, Segel, Chagall and others.
As a German surname it can be traced to 12th century Bavaria and was
used by people who made wax seals for or sealed official documents (a
siegelbeamter). Alternate spellings include Sigel, Sigl, Siegl, and
others.It may come from the Anglo-Saxon word sigel, meaning sun.
One story I heard was that,
in German, "der Siegel" was the keeper of the Great Seal of the Pope, as
the Pope's secretary. Or, in German,
wer weiß,
who knows?
As to my "given" name --
Stanley:
Again, from Wikipedia:
Stanley is both a family name and an old masculine given name
from the 11th and 12th century
English contraction of 'Stoney Meadow' -- (or 'Stoney Lea') -- it is also the name of a number of
places, and has other miscellaneous uses.
And my "middle" name --
Marvin? No big deal, just the "Americanization" of my Hebrew name --
Mordechai -- into an "M" sounding common name.
Why am I, in Hebrew, Shmiel
Moedecai? Again, unfortunately, wer weiß,
who knows?
So, there you have it, my
"Home" page -- want more, see the links above. Have fun.
more
to come (maybe)...
If you want/need to reach me, email me at:
Stan@stanleymsiegel.com just click
on the address
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