I often remember words by the way in which they were first used toward me. In eighth grade, I had a project in my drama class whereby each of us had to memorize a speech of our choosing and perform it in front of the class, on stage. Contrarian radical that I was, I decided to memorize and perform a speech by Vladimir Illych Lenin, a rousing call for insurrection against the bourgeoisie and a denunciation of the imperialist Great War. I hardly knew what any of it meant, but I remember practicing with passion and fervor as I chuckled at those classmates who lacked my confidence.
During class one day, when we were all practicing into the walls as a group, she gave an instruction to the class: "give your performances with as much energy and emotion as you can muster!" she turned towards me and cracked a smile, "even if it drifts into melodrama." So I remember the word melodrama. Every time my friends become hysterical over personal slights. Every time a film camera zooms and the orchestra…