Dyslexia, Alzheimer’s, Dementia, or Just Plain Slow?

As a young kid, I always struggled with detailed thinking and expression, whether in writing or speaking. My schoolwork was consistently below average in those early years because I often misspelled or mispronounced basic words, terms, and names. I clearly remember my best friend asking why I always pronounced the name of the Detroit baseball team as “Tagers” instead of “Tigers.” Even as a college professor, my best friend and colleague, when reviewing the first draft of one of my early scholarly papers, politely pointed out, “I don’t think there is an ‘e’ on the end of ‘metaphor’.” Once, while reading aloud the sports page in my eighth-grade class, I misread and mispronounced the term “National League Pennant” as “National League ‘Peanut’.”

This particular pattern persisted throughout my school years, not only making it difficult for me to learn and pass words on spelling tests but also affecting my ability to do mathematics, especially algebra. Geometry was easier, perhaps because it seemed more “visual” to me rather than auditory. Although basic logic seemed relatively simple, symbolic logic, with all its symbolism and shorthand versions of transactions, completely baffled me. The same difficulties have followed me when I tried to learn foreign languages. For example, I just misspelled “foreign” the first time. Correct spelling has always been a significant challenge, mainly because I have spent so many years writing abstract manuscripts.

Indeed, when my third-grade teacher introduced us to script writing as an alternative to printing, I found it very difficult and frustrating. So, I announced that I would not bother with script writing but would stick with printing. My teacher assured me that when I found it necessary, I would switch to script. I was in a very progressive, John Dewey-inspired school. I continued printing through high school, and when I asked my college English preparatory teacher if my printing would hold me back in college, she simply, and enigmatically, replied: “Not to worry, eventually you will have secretaries to take care of that sort of thing for you.

Now, at the age of 92, I face yet another related issue. I’ve noticed that what is commonly referred to as “short-term memory loss” is starting to occur. Throughout my life, I’ve found that remembering things has become increasingly difficult. Strangely enough, the farther back I go in my memory—like to grade school and high school—the clearer my memory seems. I can easily recall the names of many, if not most, of my classmates, teachers, sports stars, and towns I’ve visited. However, when it comes to the day of the week or the names of my good friends and current neighbors, I often draw a blank. Usually, I forget what I was going to do by the time I get to the other room. Fortunately, most of these “short-term” difficulties tend to clear up quickly, but they are becoming a bit bothersome.

I suppose I’m not entirely sure that most of these difficulties are truly connected, but I do manage to keep an eye on them as the days and months pass. Being able to think through and write about these kinds of things seems to be helpful. At least it keeps me out of other types of trouble. I’ll try to keep you posted, assuming you’re at least somewhat interested. Thanks for being faithful readers!

 🙂 Paz, Jerry

Norm Dahl, Western Washington University

An Unimportant Connection Between A Couple of Interesting Old Timers

Norm Dahl and Edward R. Murrow were born and raised in a small village called Bow-Edison, about 20 miles south of my hometown of Bellingham, Washington. Since they were born roughly ten years apart, in 1920 and 1908, respectively, they probably never knew each other. Both attended nearby Burlington High School and played basketball. Dahl went to Western Washington University in Bellingham, where he excelled in football, basketball, and track. Murrow attended Washington State University in Pullman, Washington.

Norm Dahl was my very first track coach when I was in junior high. He was a standout hurdler, introducing me to running hurdles and the long jump. He was a friendly guy willing to take the time to teach a young kid how to run and jump. I attended Western Campus School and spent nearly all my afternoons on the track field. Years later, I became skilled at hurdles and the long jump. I have remained grateful for Mr. Dahl’s patience and insight all these years. After serving our country in World War II, Norm Dahl served as a teacher at his high school alma mater. We never met again after those early years.

Edward R. Murrow

After graduating from college, Ed Murrow worked in newspaper reporting and later became a radio news announcer for ABC. He quickly gained prominence and became famous for his broadcasts on the issues at the core of the so-called “McCarthy Investigations.” He targeted Senator Joseph McCarthy and his efforts to root out “Communist Sympathizers” in the government, Hollywood, and academia during the 1950s. Years later, one of my professors at the University of Washington, Dr. Melvin Rader, was exonerated after being accused of being a Communist by Senator McCarthy. After several years of challenging McCarthy’s claims about American citizens, Murrow himself faced criticism and was eventually fired for exposing the falsehood and emptiness of McCarthy’s accusations.

I remember watching some of these Congressional Hearings where Murrow and Rader were accused of being “Communist Fellow Travelers.” Murrow always ended his broadcasts with the words: “Good Night and Good Luck.” The closest I got to being in Murrow’s presence was when I attended Washington State University for my first year of college, the same school from which he had graduated, but many years later. So, my connection with Ed Murrow was indirect at best, while my link to Norm Dahl was direct but ultimately insignificant. Professor Rader was highly respected in the academic community for standing up to McCarthy, but never talked about those events in class.

Here, then, were two important people who, in their way, impacted my life: one as a friendly coach and the other as someone who stood up for freedom of speech and honesty in the public sphere. Many years later, I was privileged to coach track and field teams at a couple of high schools and colleges and try to emulate Norm Dahl’s willingness to teach and encourage young people to enjoy and improve themselves through sports. Likewise, throughout my college teaching career, I have regularly taught political philosophy as a way to explain and explore political issues and their impact on our lives. I used one of Professor Rader’s books as a text in one of my courses. Both of these men, having lived near my hometown and attended the same schools as I did, served as examples for me of individuals who embodied kindness and insight and led lives that made a significant difference in the lives of others.