Looking Back

The other day when I was cleaning the house (something I do only rarely and only when I think the Mrs. Is about to kick me out of said house) I found a cassette tape of my mission farewell (thanks to the Frandsen family).  As the Mrs. and I were listening to my nineteen year oldness, the wife asked an interesting question.  The question was, if I could go back in time and talk to myself then, what would I say about the life that lay ahead from 2000 to 2013. 

This is what 31 year old Mr./Coach Wright would tell 19 year old Elder Wright:

-          Don’t even worry, McDonalds just keeps getting better, especially the fries.

-          No matter how many days you spent writing your farewell talk or how ready you think you are for your mission, you’re not.  You have no clue.

-          Don’t even waste your time talking to Lauren Quesenberry in December, 2005 at church.  She won’t even give you the time of day.  But don’t worry, you’ll win her over eventually, it’ll just take five more years.

-          Speaking of 2005, try to skip that whole year if you can.  Hibernate or something.

-          By the year 2013 you’ll have taught at Payson High for six years.  However, deep, deep down there’s still some red.

-          Goshen is about 15 minutes west of Payson.  I know you’ve never heard of it, but you might want to check it out.  It’s pretty sweet.

-          Enjoy every second with your parents.  You just never know.

-          If you thought efy music was good in 1999, just wait.  It gets better.

-          It’ll happen when you’re 29 so just be patient.  No need to worry or get anxious.

-          And it’ll totally be worth the wait.

-          You know that temper of yours, you should probably learn to control it sooner than later.  It’ll help you avoid a couple of holes in the walls. 

-          Generally speaking, you’re on the right path.  Just keep your head down, keep expectations low, and don’t get cocky.

-          Your Mom is pretty amazing.  Just wait and see.

-          You’re going to have a step son.  I know, crazy huh.

-          But even crazier, you’re going to be a high school girls soccer coach.  And you’ll even be able to handle the giggling (most of the time).

-          Whenever you’re having a hard day, listen to Elder Holland.  That’ll usually do the trick.

-          You’re not nearly as smart as you think you are.

-          It’ll be truly an amazing experience. 

Discoveries

I recently discovered:

1. Brigham Young once excommunicated everyone in Goshen. (In case you were wondering.)

2. A cassette tape of my mission farewell.  After listening to it, two things stuck out to me:  My voice is lower and I've become dumber.

3. Monsters Inc. has a very nice ending.  I almost cried.  How have I not noticed it before?

4. This year my interest in sports has dropped significantly.  I didn't think it was possible for me to be more nerdy and boring, but apparently it is.

5. My septic tank (at 11:30 p.m. one night while it was snowing)

6. The music section of the youth section of the lds.org section of the Internet.  I like them songs.  (And they’re free).

7. Tearing out a bathroom is relatively easy.  Putting said bathroom back together is relatively uneasy.  And it doesn't make the Mrs. particularly happy. 

8. Any woman who endures pregnancy deserves a candy bar (at the Payson School, whenever someone needs to be rewarded for extraordinary feats, they get a candy bar).  Along those lines, 99% of the male population (me included) could not handle pregnancy.  Really.