Friends,
Happy Friday!
Have you ever wondered how the Arkansas capital got its
name? Little Rock. I mean, if I were the one doing the naming, I would have
probably gone with some massive or impressive landmark or feature –think
Mammoth Hot Springs or Grand Prairie (I’d even accept Boulder as
semi-legitimate name). But Little Rock? Wouldn’t there be LOTS of little rocks
(i.e. pebbles) in the same vicinity? So, of course, on my trip to HQ earlier
this month I was determined to find-out from the locals. Fortunately, an opportunity
presented itself at happy hour –admittedly, not the best time for a history
lesson— so, take this with a grain of salt. While there were different versions
(details such as whether it was the French or the Native Americans who gave the
place its name), the consensus was that the French had settled “Le Petite
Rocher” (a clever French toponym meaning “The Little Rock”). The name itself
derives from a small outcropping of rock where the Arkansas river could be
forded (in contrast to the Big Rock, a 200 foot bluff just upstream). This
knowledge makes me slightly more comfortable with the name and has inspired me
to set forth a proposal for your consideration. Ready? I would like to start
abbreviating Little Rock as “LPR” (short for La Petite Rocher). Not to toot my
own horn, but I think it’s genius! It hails to the city’s roots, has the
familiar “L” and “R” at the beginning and end, making it intuitive and the
added letter “P” gives it a distinguished cachet (think FDR or JFK). Granted,
three letter acronyms don’t always work (I wouldn’t try one for LPR’s most
celebrated child, Bill Jefferson Clinton –something about “BJC” just doesn’t
sound right). So next time you need to refer to the beloved city where our
headquarters resides, casually throw-in an LPR and see what happens.
Of course, the real reason I’m writing you today is that
donuts have arrived in DEN. Not to say we’re holier than thou, but a dozen
delicious Holy Donuts are sitting in their usual spot . So come grab yours. Now
if only there was a Round Rock donuts less than 900 miles away from here, that
would have been perfect.Happy Friday!
JPG at the BJC/HRC airport in LPR
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