By Georgie Bright Kunkel

It is becoming increasingly more difficult to mingle with all ages in our urban culture. The extended family of the rural community is fractured by segregated urban living. You have read my complaints about this many times and I personally try to rectify this problem. When the young are cooped up in schools without older people around and older people are often cooped up without younger people around it takes ingenuity to change things.

All the stories that older people have in their heads need to be shared. Diaries that were once treasure troves of experience and wisdom rarely exist these days. I must be unique in having the urge to preserve family history because I have files on my computer of saved emails from family members. I recently downloaded those from a niece who died so that her family could cherish them. Writing is an outlet for pent up memories and experiences. But face to face interaction—older people with younger people—is still very important. Grandparents once passed on the culture to grandchildren while the younger stronger parents were out doing the heavy farm chores. These days younger parents rarely have this family service and so parents with much less experience are not only making the living but are saddled with early childhood education as well.

Now television has supplanted this service. But advertisements interfere with unadulterated advice and wisdom. It is amazing how the influence of television has interfered with self esteem. I detest the ad showing a woman with a clay modeling tool carving the fat off the clay figure and suggesting that all the women watching should use a certain product that can make them more presentable. I never see an ad for gaining weight which was my own personal problem over the years. It is now known that older people need to keep a little extra weight on their bodies just in case of a health downturn. It is like money in the bank to draw on if a health downturn reduces one’s body fat.

Older members of the family who once assisted in farm work and caring for the younger children while their parents did the heavy work are becoming superfluous. Since the city family rarely includes older people they are relegated to living in retirement residences where they pay to be housed, fed and entertained. Our techie society focuses on the young who are convinced that technology is king. Are mature members of society now being considered superfluous? Hope not.

I recently surfed the web and found a talk show guest of age 100. She was showcased because she was still active and interesting. As if older people usually aren’t? Jay Leno helped her down the stairs to her seat on the stage and gave her the chance to shine. Wish that older people were not only showcased but integrated into the day to day lives of younger people. At church recently I suggested to the minister that young children have more opportunity to mingle with older church members instead of retreating to their classes while the sermon is being presented. I must admit that my offer to share the story about my special doll was welcomed. This special doll with the special coat has now been shared with school and church environments all over West Seattle. I am sure there are readers who have special stories to share so don’t be shy. Offer to tell them so they are never lost. And resist our techie society’s tendency to ignore the wisdom of the aged.

Georgie Bright Kunkel is a freelance writer who can be reached at 206-935-8663 or gnkunkel@comcast.net