Carrie Link

TUILLEADH

The high school friend that first let me know of Kelly's death, has a "weird" e-mail address, it contains the word "Tuilleadh." When I asked her about it, all she said was, "It's Gaelic."

I wouldn't let it go. I know you're not surprised.

So I Googled tuilleadh, and found out it means "more." Still, I wouldn't let it go.

I e-mailed her, "Please tell me more about 'more!'"

This is her response:

"Tuilleadh 101:
It's practical and philosphical.
It means nothing and it means everything.
Nothing because it's just an email address, everything because it could be a way of life.
It's Gaelic, so like the Irish, it is hard to pin down to one meaning and even harder to pronounce.
Practical: a little unexpected extra (more) in a package - something tangible. Say you sell a book to someone and put a cd in the package of the music you were listening to at the time. Don't tell them its coming, just put a little something in.
Philosophical: to do a little extra or unexpected "thing" (go further, go beyond, do more) for friend, family or stranger. Not to give them a gift as in a wrapped box, but to give a moment. A moment of time or the random act of kindness, put a little of you in.
Whoa. Now would be a good time for a Guiness!"

Tuilleadh.

Totally. Stealing. Tuilleadh.

BTW:
Tuilleadh = Twill-uhach
T= tongue at teeth
ui=wi (short i sound)
ll= l
ea=uh
dh=ach (as in Bach when spoken by a classical music fan)

2 syllables with the stress on the 1st, in the 2nd syllable the sounds run together. Best practiced when paired with an Irish lilt and perhaps a beverage.




Photo (and shirt) from rdr.zazzle.com