In the process of sorting through masses of paper during the course of our move from Dallas to Hot Springs Village, I came across some interesting historical materials. I found copies of articles (the “executive director’s messages”) I wrote for a magazine while I managed an association. Most of the articles focus on issues relevant to members. Sometimes, though, I allowed myself to inject my interests into an article dealing with member-focused comments. I found it interesting to read what I wrote back in November, 1994, a few sentences and a few phrases from which follow:
I am an admirer of language,an ever-aspiring wordsmith who privately writes short stories and a bit of poetry…I enjoy listening to someone who can ‘turn a phrase.’ I enjoy the richness of words and carefully crafted sentences and delightful paragraphs.…Words and the thoughts that breed them are the driving forces behind what all of us accomplish.
I then went on to offer some quotes from people who I believed used words well:
- Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored. Aldous Huxley
- The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience. Harper Lee
- Whatever their other contributions to society, lawyers could be a good source of protein. Richard Guindon
- The human mind treats a new idea the way the body treats a strange protein; it rejects it. P.B. Medawar
- Some of the greatest love affairs I’ve ever known involved one actor—unassisted. Wilson Mizner
Twenty years ago. I was in love with words and language then, too.
