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Page 4 - Shelton-Mason County Journal Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023
Women and men andall of us
ixty-three years of
Sage —- my age — is a
careless time to make
proclamations about human
behavior: One has enough
wisdom to recognize pat-
terns and enough foolish-
ness to believe one can make
assumptions about those
patterns.
Of all the assumptions
someone of any age is prey
to, the most hazardous —
outside of race — are com-
ments about how women
and men differ. The forces
that govern the relationships
between, and among, the
sexes are as complicated as
a teenager’s emotions and as
unknowable as a cat’s inten-
tions, and a wrong step while
talking about those forces
can drop you in a pit where
sunlight is a slit high above
your head and no one is will—
ing to toss down a rope.
But, what the hell. Let’s
give it a go and let chromo-
somes fall where they may.
First, the differences
KIRK ERICSON
THESE
TIMES
between men and women are
not as profound as the simi-
larities. Women and men
want the same basics out of
life: Love, acceptance, safety,
camaraderie, purpose and af-
fection. Second, women and
men don’t fit into tidy niches.
Not all women and men are
similar to all women and
men.
This consideration of the
differences between the
sexes is a sideshow to the.-
real show, the show where
we’re all on stage together
performing in the same play
at the same time. We can
have different roles, but
the roles deserve equal bill-
ing. We’re all just trying to
make it through to the final
curtain without flubbing too
many lines.
Let’s begin our trip.
A woman shouldn’t offer
unsolicited advice to a man
who’s engaged inscrewing
up a mechanical task. Men
tend to get emotional about
that. And a man shouldn’t
describe a woman’s unso-
licited advice as “shrill” or
“strident.” Women tend to
get emotional about that.
Men should understand
women want to talk. Women
should understand that men
hear, but don’t listen.
Men should understand
that flowers influence a
woman far beyond the in—
tention with which they’re
given, and women should
understand that giving flow—
ers does not come naturally
to a man.
Let’s dig deeper.
Those examples of dif—
ferences are symptoms of
something deeper, much as
your physical characteristics
are projections of your DNA.
What is the thing that seeds
‘ the emotional gardens of
women and men? What’s at
the root?
Maybe it’s this: Women
give birth to life and men put
that life at risk.
Men are boys on their
bikes yelling, “Look! No
hands!” If the boy doesn’t
hurt himself, he wins. If
the boy hurts himself, mom
soothes him. Males have
something deeply wired that
makes us think puttingour-
selves at risk will impress
the people we’re trying to
impress.
Women have an emotional
investment in the species
that men don’t have. Women
nurture life, they sustain
life, they’re the guardians of
the life galaxy. Men, mean-
while, are boys figuring out
ways to hurt themsglves
and other people. They start
wars, they go too fast and
break bones. They like con—
flict, speed and things that
go ka—boom. They’re the ones
jumping over bonfires.
And that’s exactly what
men bring to the party: Risk.
Without risk, life is boring.
Risk makes those moments
absent of risk more edifying,
more satisfying.
Women need men and
men need women, just as
women need women and
men need men. For as long
as this corporeal and spiri—
tual experiment continues,
it will be so. Women grind
men’s edges and men have
edges to grind. It’s a closed
system that any electrical
engineer would admire.
OK. ‘
I’ll stop.
I can see the distant rays
of sun recede.
I Contact Kirk Ericson at
kirk@masoncounty.com V
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Support teachers
Editor, the Journal,
Dear friends in the Shelton School
District,
As we approach voting time for the
replacement levy for our local schools,
appreciate this opportunity to tell you
about my school experiences over the
last year. Most people know me as the
owner of smoking Mo’s restaurant in
town, but some new faces now know
me as Ms. M0, the substitute teacher.
little over a year ago,’I developed some
health issues that required me to step
away from full—timekitchen work. After
hearing a number of friends discuss the
extreme teacher shortages our schools
are experiencing, decided to throw my
hat into the substitute game. did this
both to help my own family financially,
but also to be able to better understand
the inner workings ofour school system.
You see my daughter started kindergar-
ten during the pandemic. .
For most of her first year,.her school—
work was done on a'computer at our
kitchen table. During her first—grade
' year, parents weren’t allowed inside
the school in an attempt to keep COVID
out, which totally understand. But, as
a parent, it was an unusual and scary
feeling to send my little one ofi every
day to a place had never been full of
. Wmnmmmuu llamal
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posrwsren: Send address changes to Shelton-Mason
County Journal, P.O. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584.
Published weekly by the Shelton—Mason County Journal
at 227 W. Cota St, Shelton, Washington. V
Mailing address: R0. Box 430. Shelton, WA 98584
Telephone: 360426-4412
Website: www.masoncounty.com ,
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people didn’t really know. Eventually,
was able to apply to be a parent vol-
unteer. Once a week I was able to spend
one hour helping out in my daughter’s
classroom. That progressed to me ap—
plying to be a part—time substitute
teacher. One year later, I can tell you
. from personal experience, our schools
and our teachers need our support. Chil-
dren come to school hungry, and too
ofien the price for snacks that I’ve seen
young kids rely so heavily on each day
falls on the teachers. School supplies,
again, paid for by teachers who barely
make enough to support their own
families. .
You think teachers only work from
am. to pm? Wrong. Lesson planning
can’t be done during class, so teachers
take their work home with them. Again,
those materials provided by the teach-
ers. Trying to teach every day to all dif-
ferent personalities and abilities in one
classroom is so hard, so hard, but our
teachers do it with true love and care for
their students. Catering to so many dif-
ferent needs also requires more learning
materials and educational opportuni-
ties, all of which require jimding. Even
sports and clubs serve their need. For
some students it’s their eligibility to play
that is the only thing that keeps them
motivated to stay in school. For some,
perhaps the locker room is their only
Ownedand published by
Shelton-Mason County Journal, Inc.
The Journal is a member of the
Publisher: John Lester
Advertising: r
Theresa Murray, Ad Representative
reliable place to shower. Yes, we have
homeless kids attending our schools,
and even the smallest amenity at school
can make the biggest difference in their
lives.
All of these little things come with big
costs, but they can provide-even bigger
rewards to those who most need them. .
Kids bring troubles from home in with
them, and it’s our teachers and school
stafi‘ that pick up that weight in order to
give their students a safe place and mo—
ment to rest. '
I am telling you, from what I’ve seen
with my own eyes, our teachers need
help. Our students need help.
Too often I hear, well my kids are
grown so I shouldn’t have to pay for
schools anymore. To you, I say consider
this: Consider where those young kids
will be in 10 or 20 years. They’ll be our
shop owners in town, our lawmakers
and city workers, our first responders, ,
our neighbors. One of those little kids
may even be the doctor that greets you
or your loved one at the hospital some-
day. Kids grow up fast, and regardless
of whether they’re in your life now, they
most certainly will be someday. That’s
why their education should still matter
to everyone. That’s why their well-being
is a responsibility we all share.
And that’s why this levy matters.
As the new semester begins, I send
Front office:
Dave Pierik. Office Administrator
Karen Hranac, Customer Service .
Washington Newspaper Publish- Delivery:
ers Association. Newsroom: Jon Garza
. 1 Justin Johnson, Editor David Olson
SUBSCRIPTlON RATES: Gordonweeks. Reporter Niel Challstrom
$79 per year ($55 for six months)
‘ for Mason County addresses and
$99 per year ($70 for six months)
outside of Mason County.
Single issue price $2.00
Matt Baide, Reporter
Kirk Boxleitner, Reporter
Kirk Ericson, Columnist/ Proofreader
Shawna Whelan, Photographer
Composing room:
all of our teachers my gratitude and
respect. Their job is not easy, but they
rise to the challenge with grace, creativ-
ity, kindness, patience and inspirational
energy.
And to my fellow voters, please, if not
for our teachers now, then vote “yes” or
the future of our little town. I thank you
for your time and consideration.
Monica (Mo) Carvajal-Beben
Shelton
Have a good year
Editor, the J ourna],
I really do wish everyone a happy
and peaceful new year! I hope for a safe
and prosperous future for the country,
too, but with the current administration,
that’s ifi‘y.
To all of you who voted for Joe Biden
for president and now regret it, you ,
were horribly duped, but had plenty of
company in the scam. I suggest victims
here check the TVratings, seek out the
truth and switch channels. ’
Now go out and have a happy new
year. '
Robert E. Graham.
Union
see LETTERS,'page 5
Creative Director: Lloyd Mullen
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and legal deadlines are 5 pm. the
Monday prior to publication.
To Submit a letter to the editor,
email editor@masoncounty.com.
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a