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Welcome to the Weblog of Theo May
Many of you may be wondering why I'm using
the name 'Theo', when you know me as
'Ted'.
My given name, of course, is 'Theodore'. But, 'Ted May' seems too brief,
while 'Theodore May' tends to outlive its welcome.
So, 'Theo May' seems a good choice as a happy medium.
When we recall that 'Theo' means 'god' in Greek, we must, all the more,
in enthusiasm as well as genuine modesty, embrace my name: THEO MAY.
A Word on the Name of This Website
I have often stated that I had the most wonderful mother-in-law any man
could have. After all, it seems clear that she genuinely liked me, since she
forgave all my foibles in word and deed.
Now Lois was an accomplished painter. But, virtually all of her paintings
are landscapes, a genre at which she excelled. In fact, I know of only one
painting she made of a person: and that person was myself.
I had played the piano for my in-law's fiftieth anniversary celebration in
August of 1990. A handsome photograph of myself at the piano (please note that this
says the photograph was handsome, not necessarily myself, but I did have a wry,
puckish look on my face) was taken. And Lois, in her usual goodness, decided to
create a surprise gift for me - a painted version of the handsome photograph.
But, when we were showed the new painting, we could not help but
burst out laughing. For, the handsome photograph of the wry pianist had become
a baboon - that which we henceforth termed 'THE SIMIAN PIANIST'.
The title of this site gives reference to this work of my mother-in-law
Lois, in various ways: first, that it is nice when it is undertaken as a labor
of love. But second, any such artistic work is fraught with peril - namely,
to monkey with what we do best can make fools of us all.
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