Words

In the past couple of weeks, both the Republican National Convention and the Democratic National Convention captured my attention. I was a rapt viewer. The contrast couldn’t have been clearer; though there were also many commonalities.

Someone — I don’t know who (an AI-bot?) or how — captured and compared the number and frequency of the most commonly spoken words at both conventions. The total number of spoken words was similar: 110,000 at the DNC; and 109,000 at the RNC. The word “family’ was spoken 247 times at the DNC and 243 times at the RNC. “Home” was used 167 times at the DNC and 144 times at the RNC. “Love” was used 178 times at the RNC and 168 times at the DNC. “Child” was spoken 103 times at the RNC and 133 times at the DNC.

Are we so different then? Aren’t we all Americans with mostly the same worries and aspirations? It appears so.

Yet, there was at least one outstanding difference. “Woman” was used 195 times at the DNC and did not even make the list of top words at the RNC. One could speculate about this from all sorts of angles. I’ll make my guesses: first, the Dems are focusing on women losing the right to abortion, prompting lots of sad stories. Second, we have the possibility of electing our first woman president, a thrilling proposition. And, finally, the need to capture the votes of the young women demographic — something both parties want — took a prominent role at the DNC.

There was another remarkable standout in the use of “woman” from the DNC podium: Kamala, Michelle, Oprah, and Hillary all spoke about the strength of their mothers and/or grandmothers; they talked about ways the women in their families instilled in them the values of integrity and purpose that had guided their careers and personal lives.

From my point of view it was heartwarming (and all too rare) to have mothers — and parenting in general — praised so vociferously in the midst of a political forum. None of us would be here without moms, and women do the majority of the caregiving in our society. So having moms take their place on the national stage, in a political venue, was, in my mind, brilliant and signified a return to sanity amidst these strange discomforting times. Moms do not get enough credit or support for doing what they do in the world. So huzzah for the women! Not to say there wasn’t some great male energy too; but here was another contrast: Hulk Hogan ripping off his shirt versus Tim Walz’s son Gus bursting into tears and yelling, “That’s my dad!”

The Williams family reunion

Anyway, apropos, this week there’s a remarkable family reunion — always the Sunday of Labor Day weekend — that began in 1942 and is still going strong. For those of you who know any member of this wild, gregarious, fun-loving family, that should be no surprise. The Williamses show off a blatant example of excellent parenting over the ages.

The Williams family — its many tentacles and genetic strands — has been woven through nearly all facets of our Peninsula communities since the arrival on our shores of their founding father, Lewis Daniel “L.D.” Williams, born in 1853 in Wales. His marriage to Eliza Whealdon, born 1854 in Clackamas County, Oregon Territory, produced five children: David Walter, who married Berntza Olsen; Lew married Elaine King; Eleanor, called “Nell,” married Herbert Krumbien; Rees married Marguerite Garvin, called “Marg”; and Jack who married Julia Hoare.

I’m not going to list the kids or grandkids of those five siblings but, OK, now you can see what I’m up against in trying to track this family saga! Let’s just say they know who they are and you’ll still see many of their names on streets and shops in Ilwaco and around town.

Michael “Mike” Dan Williams, the last child of Rees and Marg, was the clan elder until his death on June 28, 2020. He was beloved by so many for all the wonderful projects and events he was involved in. As daughter Melinda Williams says, “Dad was very much a connector and very close to his family. He really really believed in small town traditions — you help your neighbors, you show up for funerals and births. We definitely learned that from him.”

“He emceed the family reunion and Loyalty Days for years and he loved it. The Williams family is outgoing, welcoming, and involved in their communities wherever they are. And fun is a big part of the family and the reunion. Grandfather and the great uncles were such good story tellers and jokesters. One of our reunion traditions is to read fake telegrams from famous people — pop stars or politicians, whoever’s in the news — with regrets that they can’t attend this year.”

I heard from current clan elder Kris Jones (more about her in a moment) that there has always been a telegram from Queen Elizabeth. (Yep, it will be a little harder for her to attend this year!) Maybe Beyoncé or Kamala will telegram in for 2024 … who knows?! There will be a potluck with signature dishes: shrimp cocktails, salmon, pies and cobblers. And “field games” as Melinda calls them: “if there’s space — but it depends which family is hosting — we usually play tug-of-war, and have sack and three-legged races, softball, horseshoes. Next year my sister Hillary, Mike’s wife Jeanene and I will be hosting.”

Clan Elder, Kris Jones

Now the clan elder baton has passed to Kris Jones, 84 of Eugene, Oregon, daughter of Virginia (Ginger, Ginny, or just Gin to some) Williams Jones. Great responsibility rests on the shoulders of the clan elder. Kris is busy preparing remarks that will include family stories, jokes and — because Kris has an operatic voice (art, literature and music run all through this family) — perhaps she’ll be leading the patriotic songs that are sung every year “God Bless America” or “America the Beautiful. And, Kris says, “We always end with ‘Danny Boy,’ and a few tears are shed.”

Kris remembers the good ole days, “Uncle Rees owned the drug store — so that was always a good stop for candy—and Uncle Jack owned the movie theaters in Long Beach and Ilwaco. Family members owned the go-carts. So we kids had the run of the Peninsula. My memories are so full of joy. And we looked forward to the reunion every year because every generation was there. The old ones loved us and they were hysterically funny. The uncles and grandpas smoked cigars, drank whiskey, played cribbage and told jokes and stories. There was always humor and a great sense of patriotism. We have a coat of arms that includes a flag, a bottle of whiskey, a pioneer wagon, and a church.”

I know first hand from knowing Kris and Melinda (and Melinda’s husband Mark Murray) that this family is all about outrageous pranks, witty stories, idiosyncratic personalities, creativity, downright zaniness, and commitment to family and community. (Nanci Main tells about the many years when Melinda dressed up as a garlic “bulbette” and husband Mark was the emcee for the Ark Restaurant’s outrageously popular garlic dinners.)

Seems to me the Williams men provided the bravado and the women in the family provided a touch of class (Eliza, called “Nana” by the family, “knew Shakespeare backwards and forwards, and could quote it by the hour”) — and, in some cases, those moms kept the guys in check. One story goes that Uncle Rees and Uncle Jack, mad at one of the church elders, drove over to the house in a huge Buick, backed off 20 feet, then rammed the front porch, not once but twice! When they got home the women of the family said, “Now you go right back over there and apologize!”

This year the fun takes place in Seaview at the home of Peter Williams. Kris says there’s usually between 80-120 people. I asked, “Can we all be official Williamses for a day?” The clan elder said yes!

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Note The Sou’wester Volume XLIII, Summer and Fall 2007, written by Virginia Williams Jones (Kris’ mother) and edited by Sydney Stevens, captures much of the Williams family history.