Page 31 - Voices-2022-04

was then that back” might have been the playground words for
Dennis, my neighbor, grabbed the time, but if I had been calmer and thinking
me to calm me down and I clearly, I should never have let my temper get
ended up swinging on him the best of me. Perhaps you remember the old

and hitting him. Now we Sunday School song “Angry words! O, let them
had a Latin temper and an never. From the tongue unbridled slip…Check
Irish one at work—not a them ere they soil the lip.” Hindsight is 20/20!
good thing—and we both Secondly, humiliation took hold of me as

found ourselves in the school well. Here was the son of an immigrant from
office, mad at each other, and Germany making fun of me and my family
not wanting to talk to the because they had accents. As Homer Simpson
principal. With the skill of a might say, “d’oh!” Clearly some 50 plus years later

psychologist and social worker, I realize that it was the other kid who had the
the principal got the story out of us. Dennis problem with His family sounding funny. Other
was hurt because he thought he was helping kids thought it was neat that my grandmother
me, and I thought he was on the other guy’s side sounded like the queen, or my grandfather could

making fun of my family. He eventually calmed put on several British accents-the cockney of his
us both down, pointed out that we were good native London, the Scots, the “posh” and others
friends, and that it all was a case of mistaken when he told a joke. Of course, I knew better, but
understanding. He was right. We were, and did then I was just a kid, right?

remain friends, mindful that we all came from The third lesson from this incident was
different backgrounds with parents and relatives friendship. Yes, it was a learning experience, and
“speaking funny” to other people. could have ended far differently than it did, but
Now before you pull out your handkerchiefs the friendship element was the true key. You see,

and begin dabbing your eyes, let me discuss the it was not me that was shunned, ignored, and
three main points I learned that day and lessons treated like a leper, but Bruce who started it all.
for life I still observe. First, never let angry words He suffered greatly from his action. Sure, I had
take hold and cloud your judgement. Yes, “take it lost my temper, and yes, I had swung on and

VOICES! | APRIL 2022 31