by Georgie Bright Kunkel
 
    It is interesting how language has such power. Long ago I determined to eliminate violent language from my vocabulary.

After all, I grew up with a single mother who never ever raised her voice or used her hand against me in anger. It was a shock to go out into the world where anger and violence was evident. I was not prepared to wend my way in this kind of environment. As early as elementary school I learned that anger and violence could affect life on the playground.

Once a new student whose parents spoke only German was entered into my school.  Since I was considered responsible, my teacher asked me to show her around and look after her for a while until she was oriented. Yes, I was one of those students who could be depended upon to do the right thing.

     It wasn’t easy being this kind of person in the big world outside my home. I must admit that learning to cope in the world that included people who used violent behavior was anathema to me. If you don’t know what anathema means look it up and expand your vocabulary. I can’t claim to have a huge vocabulary myself but that word has always intrigued me somehow. My older brothers who had some pretty violent fights in their day were grown up and gone when I came along so I grew up with sisters mostly. Not that I didn’t witness some pretty serious quarrels in my day but physical violence was not in our way of life.

    Neighbors that I knew growing up felt sorry for my mother who had to raise a big family alone. Once my mother was asked if she wouldn’t put one of us up for adoption and she vehemently refused such an idea. Since I was the youngest I always felt really wanted. And since my older brothers had left home before I was born I never overheard swearing from anyone. My baby sitter would scold me for even using the word “darn” and so you can imagine how shocked I was to get out into the bigger world where swearing often occurred. My whole family was brought up in an environment of right thinking and talking and so I could not understand why many of my high school acquaintances did not respect proper English usage.

    In my day we admired people who were great public speakers. All through my childhood the radio brought the fireside chats of President Roosevelt into our home. He did not belong to the political party that my mother belonged to but everyone admired his wonderful use of the English language. What a commanding voice he had. He was like a king who cannot be deposed. Even though he was brought up in a household far from the madding crowd, as it were, his terrible physical disability resulted in his determination to help people. I was a recipient of a program that evolved during his administration. I was able to take advantage of funds made available to those wanting to attend college.

       I cannot boast of a huge vocabulary base but thanks to my smart computer I can access any word that I need to embellish my writing. As I always remind people, every person has a story to tell and we need to chronicle every person so each story is added to the history of our race. Everything that happens in our lives shapes us into what we become. Life is precious and living a worthy life is all important. I must admit that moving to a large city has opened me to a greater variety of experiences than I had growing up in a small town. Every time I drive anywhere near the city I am appalled at the chaos resulting from the tunnel project and the two huge stadiums looming into view.

Again I must mention how fortunate that I am that I ended up in West Seattle which is for me my small town away from home.

    Now I must bring this column to an end and start my day. I am being interviewed because I was a Rosie the Riveter during WWII and I will soon be a speaker at our local bookstore. There aren’t many Rosies left as the youngest ones are in their nineties these days. No matter how many years have passed in my lifetime I am still that little girl living on Prindle Street in Chehalis and turning cartwheels on the lawn. I can dream, can’t I ?