This is going to be another column where I start with: “I heard someone in church say…” It happens every so often that someone speaking in church gets my attention and my mind activated. And I start thinking — about everything other than the main topic of the talk.

In this case, a guy was giving a sermon about the simplicity of the gospel. Don’t overcomplicate it. Master the basics. Focus on Jesus.

Then he mentioned socks. Then I was lost. The “railroad lever was pulled,” and my thoughts went down a “side-track.”

The speaker reminded us, about John Wooden, the legendary, former basketball coach at UCLA. He died June 4, 2010, at the age of 99. In his record setting career, he won 12 national titles, including seven national championships in a row (1967 – 1973).

Famously, when new players, who were all cream of the crop recruits, arrived at UCLA, Coach Wooden would teach them how to properly put on their shoes and socks. He started with the basics.

Socks had to be carefully put on, smoothed to avoid having any wrinkles. Shoes were put on with proper tightening of the laces. Vigorous pivoting and change of direction on hardwood floors is hard on feet. Avoiding blisters was the message.

I’m not exactly sure what the speaker talked about next, but I was thinking about Forrest Gump. Yes, the guy in the movie of the same name played by Tom Hanks. When Forrest and Bubba arrive “in country” as soldiers in the Viet Nam, Lieutenant Dan tells them to keep their feet dry and to change their socks often.

He then gives them two important pieces of advice.

“Take good care of your feet and two, try not to do anything stupid!” Forrest thinks to himself, “I sure hope I don’t let him down.”

Now that the seasons are changing in Sanpete, my thoughts are going to wearing heavier socks to keep my feet cozy and warm. I have lots of socks. I’m in agreement with Dumbledore when he tells Harry Potter, “One can never have enough socks.”

Some years ago, my wife gave me a sort of “tower” chest of drawers for the sole purpose of storing socks. When it’s difficult to shut the drawers, I know that it’s time to start retiring some socks to make room for replacements.

As a young man, while on a church mission in Norway, I made friends with a nice Lutheran family in Mo I Rana, a small city just south of the Arctic Circle. Over the course of the winter of 1972, we had many visits about religion and other topics.

One evening, without saying what she was up to, Mrs. Trytti asked to be excused for a couple of minutes. She returned shortly with a bag of several pairs of socks she had pilfered from her husband’s sock supply.

She had noticed that the socks I was wearing had a hole or two in them. (The custom in Norway is to remove shoes at the door upon entering a home.) I still have the pair of gifted woolen socks that are kind of the Scandinavian male equivalent of “above the knee” socks. I wear them once or twice each winter on special, cold day occasions.

I consider socks as a great gift to receive. A good grade, classy, functional pair of socks is always appreciated. And since I think socks are good to receive, I consider them good to give as well.

I enjoy giving socks, usually Scandinavian style ones, to family, friends, and unsuspecting acquaintances. Even though socks are traditionally the most boring gift ever, when they’re good socks, quizzical “what the heck” reactions are often transformed into, “wow, these feel good – thanks” kind of reactions.

A few months ago, I read a very short, true “heart-warming” book. I borrowed it from the library. The title is “Socks for Christmas” by Andy Andrews. Andrews tells the story of how “a lousy pair of socks,” as a gift from his aunt, changed him and Christmas forever. Check it out.

There are many good brands of socks out there. Aside from Nordic socks, the Stance brand is popular with me.

The word “stance” suddenly has me thinking of the show “A Lot Like Love.” It’s a guilty pleasure movie of mine (a little risque’) when it comes to rom-coms. Oliver (Ashton Kutcher) asks Emily (Amanda Peet), “What’s your stance on pancakes?” She replies, “I am pro-pancakes.” So I’m wondering Sanpete, what’s your stance on socks? Where do you stand?

I was thinking of going into the history of socks here, but I’ve changed my mind. Suffice it to say that the Romans are credited with inventing the first split-toe socks. These were designed for wearing with sandals. Nowadays, men, and some ladies, get made fun of for wearing socks with sandals. I say, if the socks are interesting enough, you can pull it off and get away with it.

Here’s some sock trivia you may or may not want to know. The expression, “put a sock in it” means to “be quiet.” This goes back to the early “Gramophone record players” with the big horn speakers. If you wanted to reduce the volume, you “put a sock in it.”

Another one. If you come to a door with a sock on the doorknob, well — that means “Do Not Disturb.”

I’ve told this one for many years: “Does your nose run? Do your feet smell? If so, you must be built upside down.

And finally, to finish off the socks subject. This comes from the Beatles song, “I’ve Got a Feeling.” We saw Paul McCartney perform this tune last month in Las Vegas as part of the concert encore which had a memorable “virtual duet” with John Lennon. Here’s the pertinent lyrics:

“…Everybody pulled their socks up, Everybody put their foot down, oh yeah…”

According to the internet, “pulling your socks up” is an English idiom meaning to pull yourself together and try hard to achieve goals and meet expectations. So, I renew the challenge, pull your socks up Sanpete! — Merrill