Acknowledgments

Question

HiAt the end of the book there are acknowledgments and I have some questions about them.The author says:1. The Barry family - May Irish eyes always smile upon you.--- Does it mean "I wish your Irish eyes were always happy/smiling". "I want you Irish eyes to be smiling".2. Joerdie Fisher - You truly are the Divine Mother ... because that's how you roll. --- Does "because that's how you roll" mean "because you behave like that (like the Divine Mother)"3. Ken Robb - The yang to my yin. There is no one else I would rather share a birthday with than my evil twin. The "fatherland" will always be ours.--- Does it mean "I wouldn't like to celebrate my birthday with no one else, but with you my evil twin". I understand that Ken Robb is the author's twin brother, but why he calls him "evil"? Maybe "evil" means "malicious" here?4. Cyndi Schacher - Thank you for your sparkling point of view of the world and those who inhabit her. There is no one else whom I would rather carpool with. --- Does "those who inhabit her" mean "those who inhabit this world"?--- Does "There is no one else whom I would rather carpool with" mean "I wouldn't like to carpool with any one else, but only with you"?Thanks

BarbaraPA · Accepted Answer

Hi Newguest,
It sounds like these are a bunch of "inside jokes" he shares with these people. Expressions they use together... so the dedication is very personal.

There is a well-known song "When Irish Eyes are Smiling" -- you can google it. The first one is just good wishes.

There is a standard cliché about the idea of "an evil twin." One is all good, one is all bad. I'm willing to bet that both of the brothers refer to the other as "the evil twin" or something like that. He means that even if he were given a choice, he still would choose Ken as the person to share his birthday with. (I often refer to my kids' step mom as "the evil stepmother" as a joke too - because it's a cliché in so many stories and movies. She does it as well.)

Yes, I guess Cyndi is an optimist who helps the author see the people how inhabit the world as "sparkling." The author enjoys carpooling with her, and she would choose her over any other candidate.

There is no one else I would rather -- the author uses this twice. It means, both times, that those people are his first choice to do those things with. It does not mean the other would refuse to do so with anyone else.

Newguest · Answer

Hi Grammar Geek. Thanks for the answer.

Yes, I checked that song. However I'm still not sure what the author is trying to say. I understand that these people are not Irish. I conclude that he's just using the title of the song to say: I wish that Irish eyes were always smiling on you. Am I correct?

2. What about:

Joerdie Fisher - You truly are the Divine Mother ... because that's how you roll.

--- Does "because that's how you roll" mean "because you behave like that (like the Divine Mother)"

3. But does it mean that Ken Robb really is his twin brother or is it said just for fun?

Thanks

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