Inside Sanpete: What’s the rush?

Merrill Ogden
It seems like every year, this time of year, I am a bit shocked to see all the “back to school” stuff out for sale in stores. Back-to-school advertisements are showing up in newspapers, online and in my email box. My question is, “Didn’t we just finish the school year?”
What a rush we are in to get from one thing to another. Isn’t there a break somewhere from the hubbub? Can’t we get a rest from some things just for a little while?
I don’t believe that most kids are wanting to start thinking about school quite yet. Of course, some boys are soon getting ready for football practices. And some girls have drill team, cheer and other sports that take preparation. But lots of kids have other things on their minds. Come on. It’s summer.
By the same token, I’m not all that interested in what the Utah Jazz are doing in the offseason. All right — tell me who you drafted first and when and if you sign him. But other than that, give me a break from the NBA for a few months. As a kind of casual fan, I’m not in a rush to start over again so soon.
Likewise, the football season will get here without me thinking about it 24/7. Some people can’t stop thinking about it. I admit, it can be fun to talk about football occasionally in the offseason. But unless you’re a player or a coach, for the most part I say, “Give it a rest already!” (Though, I do admit to paying attention to some of the college player commitments, etc.)
It’s only July and so many people want to act like it’s fall. Dang! Let me enjoy these hot, summery days without the distraction of thoughts of falling leaves and school buses.
We’ve evolved (or devolved) into a world which is fueled by marketing. And marketing is always getting the “jump” on us. Our needs and desires are anticipated before we, ourselves, even know what it is that we need or want.
“Hey honey, the newspaper flyer says it’s time to buy school clothes. Let’s get to the store before all the good stuff is gone.”
And so it is. We rush from season to season in school, sports and everything else. We can hardly wait for one holiday to get over so we can think about and get prepared for the next one.
Speaking of which, Pioneer Day is upon us. It’s tomorrow, the 24th of July. It’s a holiday for Utahns and there are some good local celebrations.
Born on Pioneer Day, my dad would have been 117 years old this year. (Interestingly, I heard that the world’s oldest marathon runner died in India a week or so ago at the age of 114. He was hit by a car.)
For the holiday, in Sanpete, Fairview throws a big whoop-dee-doo that’s worth the effort to get in on. Spring City also does a fun celebration. Other Sanpete towns have activities.
You can go to the town websites and see full listings for events around the county. Life’s too short not to see parades, eat local barbecue and enjoy rodeos and crash-up derbies.
So Sanpete, what I’m asking today is that you take a page out of my book. Don’t let anyone rush you. Don’t rush out and buy school clothes this week. Go buy a new swimsuit instead. Don’t worry about football and basketball. Go to a baseball game.
What’s the rush? Let’s enjoy today. Let’s enjoy this summer time. Heck, people haven’t even picked tomatoes or corn yet. This is the only summer of 2025 we’re going to get. Enjoy it! — Merrill