Pappa Hardy’s Musings on Life.

Well, serving in Public Office is an interesting experience. It takes a mind shift away from what you personally want to see done, to making sure that you are working for the public good of everyone that you represent. This makes the choices difficult because sometimes there are lots of gray areas and no clear cut directions that should be taken. For instance, if you approve a certain type of development for an area, how is that going to impact the city and it’s citizens in 10-15 years, not just tomorrow.

Everyone of course has ideas about the right way to do things as well, and you quickly learn that you can’t always vote the way someone else suggests that you vote. It takes separating your desire to be liked from the public good. Everyone at some time or the other should have this opportunity.

I am a sucker for a nice fireworks display. Every Friday night before Labor Day, in Payson, we have the annual Onion Days Fireworks display. We don’t get em on the fourth of July, we don’t get em on New Years Eve, we don’t get em on the 24th of July (a particular Utah Holiday), and we don’t get em any other time, but we do get em on the Labor Day weekend in Payson. This was better than the Beijing Olympics, mainly because each and every one was a real firework rocket in the sky. I guess there is some of the patriot in me, because every time I watch fireworks (and I haven’t met a fireworks display I didn’t like) I get a hot spot in my heart about my country (and that isn’t from my recent heart burning ablation experience). I love this country, and I love the Rockets Red Glare.