Scott's Deep Space

Judging by the title of this page, you probably clicked here expecting something profound or interesting, some "deep thoughts." Well, not to disappoint you, but Y2K turned out to be refreshingly down to earth in many respects.

Yes, all was right with the world this spring and summer when the familiar reddish brown dust and the smell of ball mitt leather permeated the car and the house. You see, when Lizzie joined the Yankees fast pitch softball team, my senses came alive with the nostalgia of those long-gone Little League days. And I realized I had been harboring some form of modern father baseball guilt because my boys are into soccer. Once I came to grips with the situation, I sought solace in the "if you can't beat 'em join 'em" school of psychological treatment and became an assistant referee for Harrison's soccer league. Words cannot describe my smug satisfaction in actually spotting and calling offside violations a few times this season.

Jenifer convinced herself that to really do things right, the "pageant" to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Denver Stake (Mormon-speak for "parish" or "congregation") needed a first-rate orchestra. And what first-rate orchestra doesn't have woodwinds? And would it not be great to have Scott pull out the clarinet after a 20-year hiatus and join the orchestra? Of course. More than happy to lend my support. So I bought some reeds and went to work. Let's just say that I had more muscle memory in my fingers than I would have thought and much less in my facial muscles and lungs. In the end, the whole production and especially the orchestra, thanks to the talents of Jenifer, turned out to be first-rate and a lot of fun.

I had enormous fun tracking down several members of the world famous Orem High School Debate Team, class of 1982. This was all in preparation for a big multi-year reunion to be held in Orem in July. The event turned out to be quite enjoyable. Many of the people there had not seen each other for years and years. What is weird about those kinds of gatherings is how you can pick right back up with some people and with others you just look at each other and think -- I knew you 20 years ago but what planet have you been inhabiting in the mean time?

I still enjoy being Cubmaster for the combined Cub Pack of the Willow Creek, Greenwood Village and Centennial LDS Wards. I enjoy getting to know all the kids, and various Den leaders from all the wards. But I think the thing I like most is having another outlet for some creative zaniness. So far, this zaniness usually is a hit with the cub scouts, while many of the other adults and parents are left scratching their heads.

Finally, I thought it might be interesting to list my favorite books I read this year. I suppose you can come to your own conclusions as to whether I am eclectic or just strange:

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K Rowling
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide, and Children of the Mind by Orson Scott Card
Fire of the Covenant by Gerald Lund
Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson, M.D.
Cinderella as adapted by Walt Disney (about 253 times)