The first time I heard that funny word stands out in my mind so vividly that it seems like it was yesterday. But the year was 1972. I was sitting in Mr. Patton’s English class at Skyline High School. Mr. Patton gave a weekly vocabulary and spelling test. One of the words that day was “gerrymander.” I spelled it correctly and gave its meaning: To manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favor one party or class.
On that day in school I had no clue that the word would have such an impact in my life 20 years later.