“Do not judge your neighbor unless you walk two moons in his moccasins.”- Native American Proverb

It’s calm and 54 on this beautiful morning in the desert. Not a flutter of a breeze. Nothing dares to disrupt the perfect quiet and perfect peace of the early morning. Well, nothing but the constant buzz of propeller planes flying North and South as they scope the valley. I’m sure they have a reason for the constant surveillance of the grid, but Bruce thinks nefarious things are afoot. That’s right. The Bruce.

—

BRUCE: Planes and Football

As I mentioned in this past “General Update,” I visited with Bruce last week to get his take on Utah football and anything else on his mind. My grumpy former neighbor found plenty of negative things to make sure I was aware of, and some were more interesting than others. Most had nothing to do with the Ute football team.

One specific observation was towards the constant buzzing that could be heard from his kitchen table. Furry eyebrows pinched together on his furrowed brow seated slightly hunched at his eat in kitchen table. A stainless-steel rambler with an enlarged scarlet U imprinted on it to his left and a plastic magenta colored ash tray to his right. His trusty Winston between his index and middle finger. The only noise in his kitchen was the buzz from the classic top freezer black refrigerator. He had muted the 20-inch TV that set on the counter displaying headlines of a news station, but he kept a good eye on it. It was a while before we got to the football talk.

Between the TV headlines and the buzz of the airplane that we heard 3-4 times in the first few minutes of the interaction, Bruce had plenty to say.

Bruce: I’m sick of these damn planes flying every 5 seconds. Tickles the inside of my ears.

I looked up at the rustic eggshell ceiling as if to look for an airplane and took notice of the distant buzzing of the propellers.

Me: Oh yeah, I can hear that. You hear it often?

He’d resituate in his chair and squeeze his eyebrows above his steely eyes until they nearly overlapped each time he’d make a point.

Bruce: You telling me you don’t notice them?

Me: I guess I hear them now and again, but not regularly.

Bruce: Head in the sand boy. Head in the sand–do you know what those planes are doing?

Hesitantly, I non-verbally expressed that I didn’t and sipped my soda can.

Bruce: Those are the new model of the planes that I used to be around back in my day. They’re surveillance planes. Planes designed to fly really slow, straight, and steady to capture clear images. Hell, back in the 80’s the SR-90 could capture the length of the United States in one hour. Five cameras shooting simultaneously in different directions.

He took note of my amazement and continued.

Bruce: Yeah, they filmed in black and white, color, infrared, 3-D, you name it. Nobody knew. Most of it was classified back then. I can’t imagine what they’re capable of now.

He stopped for a drag but continued abruptly before exhaling the smoke.

Bruce: But I do know that they are flying the valley damn near 24/7. They don’t look like the old models, but I know that’s what they are…Captains in those planes have nearly nothing to do.

Me: You said you worked with them? Where?

Bruce: The California Desert back in the good old days.

Me: Mechanic?

Bruce: Different things. Air Traffic Control was where I cut my teeth–Called the plane “Casper.” You could barely see it flying or on radar. Phenomenal machines–But it bothers me that they are flying the valley every 5 minutes.

Me: How do you know that’s the type of plane they are? I mean, could it be any other type of plane doing something else? Flight schools, general travel and what not?

Bruce: I know. Ok. I know–And they’d like you to think that it’s flight school but it’s not. And they are taking pictures of everything, and no one cares. People like you don’t even notice.

Me: Do they need planes for that? I mean, isn’t that what satellite imaging does just about every second?

Bruce: This is different. This is on a smaller scale than the sat photos. Something local to this state–this valley even.

Me: Well, that is crazy. I’ll give you that.

Bruce: Don’t be surprised so easily. There’s a lot going on. I’m on my way out and I know it.

He paused and flashed a devious grin before delivering his favorite movie line in a Nickelson sort of way.

Bruce: I’m just acting accordingly.

And that’s why I love Bruce. He’s an expert on everything. Especially his own opinion. It’s best just to nod along in agreement as long as possible and be prepared to cut the tension with a laugh when he gets going too long. A certain way to get him refocused is to bring up Coach Whittingham and the Utes. It took half an hour, but we eventually got around to football. Also, the primary reason I knocked on his door in the first place.

Keep in mind this was a few days after Texas Tech embarrassed the Utes at home and before Utah drummed West Virginia this past week to bounce back.

Me: So where are you at with this team? You still like their chances like you did preseason?

Bruce: Hey, you know what–every team is going to lose a game. That one was doomed before it started. It should’ve been a night game. Took the jelly straight out of the donut by putting that game at 10 in the morning. Those boys were asleep–No, no, I think Coach Whittingham will get them right.–And Texas Tech–That’s strong damn good team. All the money they spent, it’d better be good.

I was taken aback by the positivity at first but was happy to keep the balloon in the air.

Me: Man, I agree with you. Everybody is going to lose, except for maybe Georgia Tech and Oregon, but everybody in the Big12 is going to lose at least one game, so this loss doesn’t do much. Hopefully, they smash the Mountaineers this weekend.

Bruce: 30 to nothing. Whittingham isn’t losing two in a row. We have the defense to not let them cross the 50. It should be a slow and steady thirty to nothing and then 4-1 at the Bye week.

–(Utah won 48-14)

Me: I like it. I really do. I like that perspective. The next game matters more than the past result.

The overcast clouds began to break and let in a little late afternoon sunshine through the kitchen blinds that face west as I stood to leave. We talked more than an hour about various things. His “General” take, General Take, on the Utes was upbeat and positive and that truly shocked me considering his usual negativity. If Bruce says the Utes are fine, I believe him. He’s been correct about more than a few things so far. Hopefully he’s wrong about the planes.

So, thanks Bruce. I hear the planes now. All the time. I didn’t and now I do. What are these planes up to? I’d rather talk more about the Utes.

—

UTAH FOOTBALL

Bruce brought a few players to my attention that he likes, and I’ve looked their up-to-date season stats just now. Before I get to them, enjoy a Utah Football fun fact or two from this season.

• Utah is scoring 39 points per game and giving up 14.6 through five games and are ranked #20th out of 136 in both categories.
• Backup QB Freshman Byrd Ficklin is 8/8 for 106 yards, has 91 yards rushing, and has scored three total touchdowns.
• Ranked 33rd in Single High Sports Top 33

Bruce Top Players:

• QB Devon Dampier: 72 pct completion percentage, 11 passing touchdowns, 258 rushing yards, 2 rushing scores.
• WR Ryan Davis: 36 Catches, 2 touchdowns
  • Bruce: smartest receiver we have. He just knows how to get open.
• EDGE John Henry Daley: 25 Tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks
• LB Lander Barton: 23 tackles, 1 fumble recovery
  • Bruce: He’s got the goods between the ears to be the next Great Utah Head Coach.
    • Bruce has never said it outright, but this is his favorite player on the team. He’s compared him to Coach Whitt multiple times.
• LB Johnathan Hall: 26 Tackles, 1 Interception, 2 Forced Fumbles
• SS Nate Richie: 25 Tackles, 3 tackles for loss
  • Bruce: Big hitter but the rules limit him.
• S Jackson Bennee: 20 Tackles, 3 interceptions, and one touchdown
  • McNelly Award Watchlist

Utah is getting stronger and healthier this weekend and will host Arizona St (also coming off a bye) at 8:15 next Saturday Night. Must watch game.

Bruce may be on to something. “Utah may just be getting started.”

The next four games for the Utes are in SLC, Provo, Boulder, SLC. Easy travel, familiar opponents and then their final bye week of the season. How high can the Utes climb? They have certainly grabbed my attention.

As has Lander Barton. Sharp young man. Football pedigree. The future is wide open for the defensive Captain. Maybe coaching is his next step.

—

Regardless of differing opinions, let’s be open to discussing life with one another. Discussions void of judgement and full of openness. Life is hard, but the burden can lighten if someone is willing to carry part of the emotional burden for a moment or two. Sometimes, just a simple smile and wave will do. Let kindness win. Let it begin with me and you–AND Bruce. He’s kinder and more thoughtful than he would ever want anyone to know. Most people are. Spes et fides.

Find the Humor and Keep on Movin’

Whit W.