“Problems are not a bug; they’re a feature–people think of problems as problems. A problem just means that something needs your attention and that’s a good thing–all we have is time and attention. Give your attention–You’ll be fine.”-Jimmy Carr
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Cold, crisp, clean air and starlit sky greeted me as I stepped out for the pre-dawn stroll this morning. The fuzzy had a little pep in her step from the cold snap and led the way in confident fashion. Quite the opposite from the warm walks of the summer season. Yessir. Cold air is a win.
You know, I’d love to store this air in a jar and release it on those scorching July afternoons for a wee bit of respite on those days where it feels like the flesh will melt right off the bone from the relentless heat. Sure, air conditioners exist, but not everywhere and there is not a guarantee that they will work all of the time. Having a personal jar of fresh cool air might just be the most valuable thing to someone.
Maybe, water and air will be the currency one day. Maybe.
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Maybe in the future…
A man sees a farmer working in a field behind his house and approaches him.
“Hey psst,” he whispered. “I got air. Cold air. Only one in state that’s got it.” He discreetly removes the jar labeled 10/17/25 from his over the shoulder satchel.
“October? Nothing fresher?” The man questioned curiously.
“Nothing fresher? AQI that morning was in the 20’s. This is clean, cool, and premium fresh mountain air that you won’t find it anywhere else, especially not in West Texas. This is the best I have right now and the best you’ll find anywhere.”
“Ok, ok. How much you talking?”
“Four Hundred and seventy-five dollars a jar–or, I’d be willing to trade.”
“Trade for what?” He asked skeptically.
The man surveyed the surrounding land the was owned by this potential customer. He spotted a cow off in the distance.
“That your cow?”
“Yup.”
“Well, I’ll say $475 or that cow.”
“That heifer is priceless. No way.”
“However you want to pay then.”
“I don’t have the money–but I’d love to work something out. What else would you want?”
“What about water? Is there a well on the land?”
“Yes–back over by the flagpole in front of the house.”
“How about you get this jar of air, and I get access to your freshwater well for a year.”
“Just you?” “Just me.”
The farmer scratched the sweat from his brow with his fingertips and smeared the dust that was coating his face.
“Welp, I guess that’ll be fine–no horses or cows or nothing. Just you.”
“Just me. Do we have a deal?”
“Deal.”
The man handed the farmer the gallon jar of air and the farmer scribbled a one sentence contract on a memo pad and signed it. “Access to my personal water well until 8/9/69.“
The man stopped by the water well before leaving and filled four standard issue canteens that were stored in his satchel and the farmer spritely rushed to the house with his newly purchased treasure.
“Marvette! Marvette! Come here. You won’t believe what I just bought us!”
The man gets back on his hover bike and zooms across the dusty plains out of sight.
The end.
—
Well, what I do know for sure is this–this morning’s air was pure enough to pay for. Thankfully, breathing is one of the only things that we still get to do for free. I’m grateful for every inhale.
“Quality of life minus envy equals happiness.”-Jimmy Carr
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Now, ever so briefly, I’d like to lay out the UHSAA Football playoff format. This is as much for me as it is for anyone reading as I am learning this as I go.
Round One will begin next week 10/24 with a play-in game that will feature the bottom seeds attempting to earn a spot in the second round. So, nearly every team getting a first round bye.
Round Two will involve all qualified teams on All Hallows Eve. High Seed will be the home team.
Round 3 (Quarterfinals) will be November 7th and played at the High Seed’s home field.
Semi-Finals (11/14) and Final (11/20) will be played at Rice-Eccles.
There is a Bracket Reveal show that begins at 10AM tomorrow that can be seen on uhssa.org.
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This week’s “General Update” should include the playoff seedings.
Until then,
Find the Humor and Keep on Movin’
Whit