A Hero Returns

Chadwin Spencer Wright (1942-2009) beloved brother, father, grandfather, and husband passed away at his house in Salem Utah on June 27th after a courageous two-year battle with cancer. A great friend, mentor, teacher, and example, he will be missed by all who know him. However, he was assuredly welcomed with open arms as he passed to the other side. He will be remembered for his kindness, his gospel knowledge, and his sense of humor, all of which he kept even until the very end. Chad graduated from Granite High School, served an LDS mission in Bristol England, and received degrees from BYU and Exeter University. He was married to Daunis Hansen on August 6th, 1975 in the Salt Lake Temple. He worked for the Church Educational System for 32 years in many different capacities, but most enjoyed his daily interactions with his students. As a valiant member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he served in many callings including home teacher, high councilman, Sunday school teacher, and bishop. He is survived by 11 siblings, nine children, 13 grandchildren and his wife Daunis. He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers. His viewing will be held Tuesday night from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Walker Mortuary in Spanish Fork. His funeral will be held Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at the Salem West Stake Center (695 South 300 West, Salem)

A Poem by Steven Boothe

In loving memory of Chadwin S. Wright

Today I want to celebrate the life that I have lived.

I have loved greatly, I have lived fully, given all I had to give.

My heart is full of gladness, a great peace fills my soul.

I've walked the walk, I've talked the talk, God's will I've come to know.

God bless my sons and daughters and all the friends I have known

God bless my wife and grandkids with a peace beyond their own.

And may the love of God sink deep within their hearts.

And may this peace and joy grow while we're apart.

A simple smile, a loving touch, your caring freely given

Has warmed my heart and touched my soul, it's made life a bit of heaven.
You've brought great joy and humble pride, there's so much good in you.

The life you've lived, who you've become, God's peace lives on in you.

So lay me down, as all must die, just part of Father's plan,

As Jesus broke the bands of death, blessed Jesus understands

That God's great Plan of Happiness was made for you and me,

As he lives now, together will our family live for eternity.

Don't worry, I know it seems I've left some things undone,

But life's race goes not to the swift, only to he who runs until it's done.

I've run the race, I've fought the fight, I've endured unto the end

And now I enter into the rest of my true and trusted friend.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, my Savior, Lord , and King

Has brought me peace and happiness and takes away death's sting.

Skies of Azure

I think today I’ll go back to the listifying. Life just seems so much easier to document in lists.

- So today I found my planner/journal from my senior year of high school (class of 99 by the way). As I looked through it, the three things that surprised me the most were:
- That I actually understood Calculus once upon a time
- How much I obsessed over girls and my interactions with them (you might think I bad now, but I am NOTHING compared to how I was in high school, ask Stephen E. Frandsen if you don’t believe me).
- How much I despised cheerleaders.

- Once upon a time I posted my rules for dating. It appears I forgot a rule. You see, recently I’ve heard through the grapevine that one of my former students would like to go on a date with me. Nothing against her, but there’s got to be some sort of grace period before a former student asks a teacher on a date right. What do you think: five years, ten years, 73 years?

- While I’m talking about past notes, I need to return to a note I once wrote about Belle. After I wrote said treatise, some of you questioned Belle’s modesty (the nerve). I’m here to defend her. You see, I believe in what’s called the Modesty Mulligan (look up Mulligan if you don’t know what it is). I mean come on, everybody has a moment of weakness when maybe they have a really attractive date or there’s a big dance and they might just slip a little. However, if their dress before and after is of good report and praiseworthy then they’re okay to be sought after in my book (so back off).

- Do you think high school students will ever realize that if they stop telling their classmates how gay and stupid those classmates are and how much they suck, that maybe they would all actually have some semblance of self-confidence? Probably not, but here’s hoping/.

- I’ve discovered I’m not supposed to covet. I guess that means I won’t be marrying Celine Dion after all. I guess it’s back to the drawing board.

- Ry-Masta (a.k.a. Techno Twin Extraordinaire), I’ve got to confess that as far as the ladies go, the still, small voice just ain’t cutting it (I must not be paying enough tithing or something). So here’s what I’m thinking: you drop by my singles ward and be my wing man (just get ready because my singles ward is a pretty crazy place). You know, maybe you could give me some tips or something. I’ve only got three years of the young single adult stuff left, I’ve got to get a move on.

- A former colleague recently wrote that my notes are always too pessimistic. As I thought about it I realized there’s something to be said about being steady. Better to be an even keel than topsy-turvy right? I mean with some people you never know what you’re going to get; the one day they’re on top of the world and then the next day they’re sure the world is going to end. Not with me, nope, a stead dose of reality. It’s like I always be saying: “Not only is the glass half-empty, but the milk’s probably sour as well.”

- While I’m at it, let me just honor my man Nathan Pacheco. Just three years ago he was a fellow ward member singing in sacrament meeting. Now he’s touring around the country performing with Yanni (I saw them on Wednesday in the ESA, it was cool). Talk about living your dreams.

- And speaking of dreams, I’ll have you know that on Saturday I did the polka down the middle of Redwood Road. It was definitely a dream come true.

Not A List

Today I went to visit my friends and associates over at the B.Y. (you know, that place of higher [or lower] education where I spent seven years trying to get a bachelors degree). While there, amongst other things, I went to visit one of my old bosses: the venerable Casey C. Peterson (I also went to visit my other old boss J.B. Stohlton, but he was absent).

Let me give you a little background. You see, back in the day I used to serve on what was called the BYU Service Council. I was on said Service Council for two years and my second year the Casey Peterson took over as our bossman. (I should here note that unless people were watching we really didn’t do too much service I’m definitely a taker, not a giver*. We on the council mostly just ate free food and supervised the people who were doing all of the service.#)

Well, as I was saying, today I went and visited Coach Peterson. As we were discussing life over a lunch which he most generously bought for me (remember, free food) we started talking about the marriage rate of those who have served on the Service Council since he arrived.^

He said of all the Service Council members, (there have probably been about 40 since he started) only eight percent have gotten married. As I got to thinking, I realized that was quite an astounding statistic. Basically, if you serve on the BYU Service Council, you only have an eight percent chance of getting married.

Now Casey the Peterson blames this marital famine on me and Nathan Urry (a fellow council member). He claims that once we get married (not together obviously but to nice female companions respectively) then the floodgates will open and all the rest will follow suit.

Me, I have a different conclusion: if you want to get married, don’t volunteer to be on any type of service organization, it will only hold you back (statistics don’t lie after all). And that's all for today.

* Editor’s Note: A wise man once said there are two types of people in the world: the givers and the takers.

#Compiler’s Note: The best thing about being involved in any organization: free food.

^Administrator's Note: According to numerous unnamed sources, BYU has four purposes (in this order): 1) Get as many of its students married as possible 2) Upon graduation, find jobs for all those singles who aren’t married in a place where they will most likely get married 3) Convince all those who aren’t married, that they’d better get married as soon as possible. 4) Get an education

The venerable ZQ requested that I not be recalcitrant in my writing ways even though summer has hit. I thusly attempt to comply.

- Me and fellow ward member Marshall the Bateman went on a Parade of Homes excursion yesterday. It was awesome. I’m officially addicted.

- The other day I was in Maceys and for about two solid minutes I couldn’t remember where the vinegar was. Can you believe that? I was/am so ashamed. There I was, grocery worker extraordinaire, and I couldn’t remember where to find something so routine as vinegar. How embarrassing.
- A couple of questions for my Mormonite associates:
1. Why does the relief society room always get the cushioned chairs? I find that very unfair.

and

2. When is the church going to get with it and start putting vending machines in the church buildings.

- This week (we be out of school) has taught me that the next time I have contract negotiations with my parents I need to have a “no manual labor” clause added. This working stuff really gets to me.

- Whoever came up with the layout for the stop signs in that quaint little village of Santaquin must have either been stoned or drunk or both. Absolutely ridiculous. Don’t ever drive there if you can avoid it.

- My dad and I are currently watching the Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. You know, I’m still surprised that Yoda isn’t quoted more in General Conference.

- I have a huge moral dilemma. It’s times like these that I miss the wisdom of my high school students. They always have such refreshing views on moral dilemmas (if they know what that means, which is doubtful).

Peace