Linda Boyne
July 23, 2008

The UPS man brought me a box the other day. I’ll admit I still get a child-like rush of excitement when I hear the doorbell ring and see him walking up my driveway handing my dog a treat. A package! If it’s something I’ve ordered online, I get the, “Yay! It’s here!” excitement. If it’s a package of unknown origin, it’s even more thrilling! (I know. I need to get out more.)

On this particular day, the mystery box had my parents’ return address label on it. Oh boy, Mom’s sent me a present! No such luck. It was a box of memorabilia from my childhood. Obviously Dad was clearing out the basement.

Going through my life in a box was highly entertaining, though. Well, probably only to me, so I’ll spare you the details, but one thing bears mention. It was my notebook from my 10th grade honors English class. Oh, yes, honors English. I was smart back then.

It was taught by my favorite teacher ever, Mr. Wetherell. We began class every day writing down and discussing the Quote of the Day, who said it, how it was relevant to life in general and, more specifically, life in our little high school microcosm.

We were expected not to memorize these quotes, which would imply temporarily learning them and regurgitating it on test day, but to “make them a part of ourselves.” Mr. Wetherell was very big on positive mental attitude and believing in yourself, but also humility, community and humanity. Included in his list were quotes from his favorite poets and authors, important men and women from history, pop culture icons and even everyday people. But by far, the most quoted person was Anonymous. That guy had something to say about everything.

I sat down and read through all the quotes and realize I had indeed made a majority of the quotes a part of myself, if not word for word at least in spirit. Well, expect for the Dickens' quote: “Procrastination is the thief of time.” I kind of let that one slide. But I’m planning to integrate it back in. Maybe tomorrow.

My old favorites jumped out at me right away. Anonymous said, “Love is your pain in my heart.” This one made us groan and clutch our chests in mock pain anytime Mr. Wetherell bumped a knee, got a paper cut, etc. (Keep in mind, we were 15-year-old honors geeks…)

Ann Landers gave us this gem in 1978: “The only way to avoid criticism is to say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.” Hard to say anything bad about that one.
My sister was a distance runner in high school and actually competed through college. She truly made these a part of herself and her whole attitude toward running and life. I remember her writing on her Pee Chees Henry Ford’s quote: “If you think you can, or if you think you can’t, you’re right.”

Our hometown hero, Olympic track star Steve Prefontaine said in 1977, “The harder I work, the luckier I get.”

And a little geekier is Yoda’s, “Do or do not — there is no try.” This was the early ‘80s, people.

Some others strike me more today than they did 25 years ago. “Maturity is the ability to force ourselves to do things we don’t want to do.” I totally get that one now. I’m mature every single day when I’m doing the dishes.

An American Indian Proverb: “He who hoots with the owl at night cannot soar with the eagle at dawn.” Clearly from the pre-latte era.

“The only real time we have is now,” said Ralph Waldo Emerson. Something to keep in mind when you’re stuck on I-70 this winter.

The one that makes me feel I should toughen up, embrace my Oregon heritage, and go without the weekly manicure was said by Francis Parkman on the Oregon Trail: “The cowards never started and the weak died along the way.”

And one that may help us all enjoy the day, “In the race to be better or best, miss not the joy of being.” – Ed Glaeggler, 1977


Linda Boyne is an Edwards resident and a regular columnist for the Vail Trail. E-mail comments about this column to editor@vailtrail.com.