By Georgie Bright Kunkel

It has been difficult for this school teacher type to realize that every up-side has its down-side as well. My family of origin always wanted things to be perfect. In the real world that is impossible. There are choices to make. Since the cave people days humans have investigated better ways of doing things resulting in fewer blind choices in life. Our wonderful minds are capable of thinking through every choice that we make based upon the knowledge at hand.

In the days when alcoholics were thought to be weak minded, people would say, “If that drunk would only use will power there would be no problem.” Those who suffered depression were looked upon as giving in to their feelings. They needed to snap out of it and perk up. No matter how independent one is, however, there is always need for being part of a community of people. So when one is alone what are the choices that make life more livable? There is an advantage to being alone and in charge of one’s living space but on the other hand there is also some advantage to being partnered.

Sharing the same living space is less expensive but that means that each one who previously lived alone must make accommodation to the other’s time schedule and preferences. There are decisions to be made about what meals to cook and what recreation to share. When they say it takes two to tango, that certainly is true when a woman needs her back zipper closed or opened or when a fellow needs help mending a shirt.

And how great it is to share Dr. Oz illustrating the fat around the stomach right there on TV or looking up at Jupiter on a clear night. Watching the hummingbirds feed as they flutter their wings violently or watching the crows and seagulls feed on the scraps that are put out for them is more fun when there is someone to share this experience. The sun rising on one of our clear days or Mt. Rainier silhouetted in the distant horizon brings more joy when one’s special friend is nearby. Just this morning I was wakened by a noise that sounded like someone riveting on the roof. I called my friend all upset and he guessed that it must be a woodpecker. Later at swim class a friend remarked, “It is spring. The male woodpecker that can make the loudest noise with its beak can attract a female.” Well, this one really attracted me right out of bed but I wasn’t the female that this drummer was set to attract.

After this harsh awakening from sleep I began to ponder about sharing my life with someone else. There are times when we must make room for interests that are long standing and that two friends do not necessarily share in common. Looking forward to new experiences is a chance to enrich the life of two special friends. There are always places we have always wanted to visit that we can now experience together. One of these is Pioneer Home which is located on Lake Washington. It is focused upon the real pioneers of Washington State. A genealogist is on hand to help research the ancestry of pioneer families. My Seattle area family is meeting for lunch and visiting this collection of artifacts. This is something I can share with my special friend as well.

Looking through my book collection I found The History of Port Angeles and Clallam County. I still have many historical items that I must decide on a home for but I am not ready to donate them yet as I use many of them as illustrations for my talks that I give. I may have mentioned before the old Indian legend about the owl calling one’s name when it is time to die. I may never die as my hearing is diminishing and I may not hear the call. So maybe I could part with many of my historic artifacts right away. That would make room for a rec room remodel so I could invite people in for sing-alongs and jam sessions. My special friend and I could entertain with our chop sticks duet. Yes we do make sweet music together.

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