A Little Sanity Test

James L. Davis

I do not understand my son and he does not understand me. We have come to this understanding mutually and other than that we just continue to shake our heads at each other on a recurring basis.

I firmly believe that is because my son is crazy and I am not, although he might protest and say exactly the opposite. Should he ever do so, just remember, he is crazy. As proof I submit to you the following test that you can give to either of us to discover which one of us is really crazy. Just ask us to empty our pockets.
If I were to empty my pockets you would discover on any given day a collection of change (normally no more than 10 cents less than what I actually need to buy a soda), a receipt or two, my truck keys and perhaps some lint, but nothing more.

Now if you were to ask my son Casey to empty his pockets the result will be far different, because my son carries the contents of a small office in his pocket, including the fax machine. OK, I made that last part up, my son doesn’t carry a fax machine in his pocket, but that’s only because his pockets aren’t wide enough to hold a fax machine. But on any given day you will find in his pockets a pen or two, a mechanical pencil, replacement lead for a mechanical pencil, paper clips, an eraser, White Out, a personal data assistant, and a scientific calculator. That is in addition to a collection of change (normally no more than 10 cents less than what he actually needs to buy a soda), a receipt or two, his car keys and perhaps some lint.

I know that these are the things that you can find in Casey’s pockets because his mother and I asked him to empty his pockets when it became obvious that there was something wrong with our son. He was walking funny. He had loaded his pockets with so many gadgets and gizmos that he could no longer walk straight. It also appeared that his legs were either suffering from very serious and strangely shaped growths or he was turning into a cyborg, so we asked him to empty his pockets.

Approximately 47 minutes later my son finished emptying his pockets and the items that were in his pockets now lay scattered across our dining room table. We were amazed, we were shocked, we were amused and I for one was convinced that my son had lost his mind (it wasn’t in his pocket, that much was for sure). On the day that we asked him to empty his pockets he also had a knife in his pocket, not just any knife mind you, but a Leatherman, complete with the carrying case. He also had a stapler in his pocket.

“Why in the world do you need a stapler in your pocket?” I asked.

“I might need to staple something,” he responded coolly, giving me that teenage “you just don’t understand look” which I just don’t understand.

“Do you find yourself in a situation where you need to staple papers so often that it necessitates carrying a stapler in your pocket?”

“Yes.”

Why did I ask? My wife, who is wise enough to have long ago given up trying to understand the inner workings of her son’s mind, shook her head and walked away at this point, but I was determined to explore the depths of my son’s madness, so I delved further.

“And the scientific calculator, why do you have that in your pocket?”

“Calculus class.”

“You have calculus once a day, can’t you just go and get it out of your locker when you need it?”

“It takes too long to get to my locker and back to class before the bell rings,” Casey said.

“That’s because you’re carrying the contents of an office supply store in your pockets.” He continued to give me the misunderstood teenager look and my left eye twitched, ever so slightly.

“Can I go now?” My son asked and I shrugged. I should have given up when my wife did, maybe my eye wouldn’t be twitching.

My son gathered up the items on the table and stuffed them back into his pockets and stumbled away, which is when I noticed the bulge in his back pocket.

“What’s in your wallet?” I asked, because I suppose one twitching eye was not enough.

My son pulled his wallet out of his back pocket. It was the size of a clenched fist. He opened it and it exploded on the kitchen table. There were approximately 345 old receipts, every class identification card he had received since his first year in junior high, and photos of family and friends stretching back almost a decade.

He started to explain why he kept each item, but I shook my head and stopped him. If I were to listen long enough I might begin to understand. And that would be just plain crazy.

Base Budgets Narrow the Debate

Representative Kay McIff

The first week of the legislative session was a little disjointed, but it sets the stage for the rest of the performance. Of major consequence, we adopted “base budgets” based upon last year, which narrows the debate so we don’t start from scratch.

We commenced on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, maybe for the last time. The citizens will vote on a constitutional amendment next fall which would remove this day from the legislative calendar. King’s contribution was most significant. While civility remains an ongoing challenge in our society, it is a far different world than it was in the 1960s when a sizeable portion of our population did not enjoy even the
most basic of human rights. I am glad those days are behind us.

Monday concluded with the “State of the Judiciary” address from the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Our forefathers wisely divided the powers of government into there separate branches. Each has it’s role. An independent judiciary is largely responsible for ensuring the preservation of the basic freedom so important in this country we love.

The Governor’s “State of the State” was upbeat and optimistic. He correctly asserted that Utah not only has one of the leading economies in the nation, but currently holds the top spot. Who thought it would be so? I believe legislators are committed to charting a fiscally responsible course this session with a design to keep our economy strong.

With veterans of foreign wars looking on from the gallery, we approved $19.6 million for the construction of a new 100-bed veterans’ nursing home to be located in Ogden. It was an emotional moment that reminded us how much we owe the men and women in uniform.

We also approved a couple of education bills. One will facilitate re-licensing of teachers who left the profession for greener pastures but are willing to return to help address teacher shortages. Another bill contemplates differential pay based upon teacher performance. It will pose challenges for administrators and teachers. It has a lot of momentum from the Governor on down, so it looks like we may be compelled to adjust.

The final report from the Mine Safety Commission was released on Wednesday. It’s emphasis is cooperation and supplementation of the federal mine safety agency rather than duplication. It seeks to add a second set of eyes in situations that pose high risk. It is long on training and committed to developing an attitude of “safety first” on the part of all participants. The College of Eastern Utah will play an increased role in carrying out many of the recommendations.

Satisfy Your Conscience

Cardell Sackett

I have often tried to go out of my way to satisfy others. There are opportunities all around us to be a ‘Good Samaritan.’ I am optimistic by nature and so I always like to see in people the best instead of seeking to see the faults and failures. This is a good trait to try and maintain, but it can also sometimes lead to difficulties. I would have to admit there have been times I have been suckered into positions that generosities have been abused, and I have had to pay the price of my attempts at kindness. I choose to continue this attitude, and hope the best in others comes through. Then I noticed on the wall of a co-worker the following statement:
“I should love to satisfy all, if I possibly can; but in trying to satisfy all, I may be able to satisfy none. I have, therefore, arrived at the conclusion that the best course is to satisfy one’s own conscience and leave the world to form its own judgment, favorable or otherwise.” This thought is attributed to Gandhi.

In truth, I feel Gandhi is right. I would love to be able to satisfy all people. The harsh reality is that you just can’t. So is it OK to quit, give up, or not try? No, I must keep trying to be the best I can be. I may not satisfy anyone in the process, but in the end, my conscience will be at peace with my actions. And I will leave to the ones around me their choice in how they form their own judgment-good or bad. At the end of the day, if I can say I have tried to make my little space in the world just a bit better, I can have peace of mind. Nothing feels quite as nice as a clean and clear conscience as it lies upon the softness of a pillow at the end of the day.
Consider this. (Cardell Sackett resides in Carbonville and is a realtor with Bridge Realty.)