Xiao Long 小龙(Little Dragon)

My nephew Kaydan wanted a Chinese name, so I decided to call him Xiao Long, which means little dragon. I sent him an e-mail and explained the importance of the name and it’s many meanings. I explained that 2012 is the year of the dragon, and that the last dragon year was twelve years ago at the turn of the century and that both 2000 and 2012 were predicted to be the end of the world. I told him, as a dragon, he can keep the world going. I told him the character for dragon is very meaningful. It is found in the word for tornado, which is called a swirling dragon wind. I said dragons have immense power. But I also said dragons must be very wise. I told him the emperor’s throne was called the dragon chair and emperors – the truly great emporers – were very wise and weilded their power with great intelligence. I told him I am a dragon. I said he will be Little Dragon and I will be Big Dragon.

I was elloquent. I was enlightening. I could feel the Muse massaging my fingers!

Then this morning I find his reply in my inbox. “Big Dragon, I miss you. I like to play Legos.”

Oh, Little Dragon, you speak with great wisdom. Sometimes Big Dragons try too hard.

~ by Ryan Adams on January 23, 2012.