Sandbox Studios: 52@40: Contact

My name is also Scott Sayre. I am on the 52nd week of a one year project I started on my 40th birthday, October 14, 2000. For my 40th I invited over one hundred of my friends and colleagues to give me the gift of an idea rather than a traditional gift. The idea had to be something I could do for no more than one hour a day, for no longer than one week in time. These ideas were to be enlightening, challenging and sometimes just for fun, ideas that could potentially give me new perspectives on my life.. I ended up receiving almost 200 ideas for my 52@40 project. My wife Kris and brother Roger are serving as the project curators, selecting 52 of the project ideas and managing my assignments on a week to week basis.

Believe it our not, this week is the 52nd and last week of the project and my final assignment involves you. My 52nd assignment is to contact another Scott Sayre. I found your name using a personal search tool on the web. I hope you don't mind. I'm hoping that you could write me back and tell me a little bit about yourself. I'd love to hear about your age, your life, your family history (we are likely relatives), your interests, your home, your occupation, your spiritual views, your political leanings and your reactions to my projects. Actually, anything would be great. A picture of yourself, your family, etc., would be incredible.

I really hope you will write back and become a part of this great project. October 14th is the final day, so please try to respond at your earliest convenience. You can read more about the project and explore documentation on past weeks projects at the project's web site http://www.sandboxstudios.org/52at40

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Within a half hour of sending out this "letter" I received a note back from another Scott Sayre. The following is a transcript of our interesting conversation.

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Subject: RE: 52@40 Project
Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2001 21:22:02 -0400
From: "T34Pilot"
To: Scott Sayre

I looked at your web site. I guess you are real. Your birthday is on Sunday Oct. 14th. I have something for you. I will be in the Chicago area on the 14th, The culmination of your one year introspective trek. What I have will take no more than one hour. It will be free to you. I will be happy to share all the things you asked for at that time. If you accept this journey it will be worth while. You may bring one friend to participate with you. You may find one hint in this email.

Scott Sayre

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Subject: Re: 52@40 Project
Date: Mon, 08 Oct 2001 23:46:00 -0500
From: Scott Sayre
Organization: Sandbox Studios
To: T34Pilot
References: 1

Hi Scott,
Thanks for your quick reply. Wow! I'd love to fly with you next weekend, but don't think I can make it down to Chicago with the plans I have on Saturday. My great uncle Arch Whitehouse was a famous WWI aerial gunner and author. Have you ever heard of him? He wrote over 60 books on military aircraft as well as wrote many an article for "Flying Aces" magazine. Any chance you would be willing to divulge a bit more about yourself without me making it to Chicago? You sound like a very interesting guy.

Best,
Scott

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Subject: RE: 52@40 Project
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 13:52:53 -0400
From: "T34Pilot"
To:

Hi Scott,
Well I tried being a little aloof but you did not bite so I will not spoil your 52-week project and I will let you know about myself. You are going to miss out on a once in a lifetime opportunity. Go to www.extremeflights.com and you will see what I do in my spare time. I visited your website and looked at the pictures and some information. You have really done many things this year and I applaud you for living life and having a great time. I am sure you have a great family with much support.

I am 48 years old. With a birthday of 12/10/53. My dad was in the Navy and met my mom in Pensacola. They traveled and he flew PBMÕs on patrol over the west coast and Panama. He was in during WWII but training was finished as it was over. He then became a metallurgical engineer and worked for GE for his entire professional career. My parents live in California at this time with one sister and her son. I have two other brothers one older and one younger. (Doug, Martin, and Suzanne)

I was interested in the family history a while back and my Uncle (Dad never was interested) said I should go to Cow Run Day in West Virginia. I had a flight to Pittsburgh and thought I would drop in on my way home. Low and behold everyone there was a Sayre. I asked someone how to get the family history and he turned to a table and said buy this book. It has all the relatives back to Thomas Sayre who came over in 1506 from Bedfordshire, England. So we are most likely cousins of some nature and it would be easy to find out.

I met my wife Janet in high school and we have been married 27 years in Dec. We have two daughters Austin and Samantha. Austin is in college and Samantha is in high school with two more years. Janet is a teacher with her masters in learning disabilities (I always say that is why she married me) She teaches at a local high school. I started to learn how to fly when I was 14 or so but did not look at this as my professional course. I went to University of Cincinnati for undergrad then Ohio State University for dental school. Got my DDS and went to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton for my residency. I practice general dentistry but I am lic. to do sedation so I do a lot of oral surgery, implants and reconstruction work. Scott, I saw in the pictures you are in the dental chair a lot. Hopefully you will not need my services.

I was in practice for about ten years and went on to get an MBA at Xavier University here in Cincinnati. By the way that is my home and I was born here. I am presently getting an MAS degree through Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. I have about half of the course work completed. I am going to do some research in the near future with aerobatic flight and physiologic response to it. It should be interesting.

Politics, very republican, with a sense of reality. Religion: Methodist there is a higher power but I have many questions. I will quit rambling. I hope this gives you the information you wanted. I have sent a picture of the family.

Enjoy And happy birthday!

Scott

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Subject: Re: 52@40 Project
Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2001 00:36:12 -0500
From: Scott Sayre
Organization: Sandbox Studios
To: T34Pilot
References: 1

Hey Scott-

Thank you for your wonderful note. I have told dozens of people about your offer and your response. Thank you so much.

Just talked to both the curators and they are very encouraging about me taking you up on your offer if it still stands. My brother in particular thinks it would be the best grand finale, If the offer does still stand, I will need to start investigating cheap flights from Minneapolis to Chicago tomorrow.

Let me know if there is still a chance I can take you up on your offer and if so, let me know a bit more specifics so I can begin to make plans.

If you have already made other commitments, I totally understand following my last note.

Thanks again for all your generosity.

Best, Scott Sayre
Minneapolis, Minnesota (612) 381-1601

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Subject: flight
Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2001 08:20:44 -0400
From: "T34Pilot"
To:

Hi,
here is the situation. Both of the planes are flying to Naperville, Il. This is about 31 miles due west of downtown Chicago. We have some work to do with the lima lima flight team. Once that is done I wanted to take you up. The logistics could be tough for you to get to this small town airport. We can not fly air combat rides over a large city like Chicago so we have to be outside of their airspace. Even at Naperville we still have to fly further out to be leagal. I thought that Minneapolis was a closer drive. When I checked it is a 6-7 hr. drive. I hate for you to have to fly to Chicago then drive to Naperville wait around fly and then reverse the trek. I am more than happy to give you a flight it just depends on how you want to handle the logistics.

If it is easier and just a expensive come to Cincinnati and do it. However the 14th obviously would not work. We are in Greensburgh, In on the 29th giving rides at a parachute dive school.....now that would be great you could go skydiving and an air combat ride....what a weekend.Well let me know your thoughts.

Scott

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Subject: Re: flight
Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2001 08:15:57 -0500
From: Scott Sayre
Organization: Sandbox Studios
To: T34Pilot
References: 1

Scott-

Does sound a bit complicated... I will be in Cinci on the 24-26 for a conference. I am speaking around noon both days, otherwise I am flexible. My flight back is around 6pm on Friday. Any chance we could work out anything on either of these days.
By the way, I am also an Ohio boy. Born in Canton and went to college in Bowling Green. My sister and brother in-law both graduated from the University of Cinci. My parents attended and met at Miami University in Oxford.

Well, better run off to work. I work at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, the largest art museum in Minnesota.

Thanks again for all your generousity...
- S

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Subject: RE: flight
Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2001 09:34:26 -0400
From: "T34Pilot"
To:

Wow it is a small world. My Dad went to Miami for some courses and got degree from Purdue. My wife is from Canton.

Well we can work something out on the eve of the 24th or 25th before you leave. Let me know more details of the trip to Cincy and we can work it out. We are based at Lunken Airport a few miles from Downtown. Where are you staying and when are you free. This will be weather permitting which at this time of year is usually ok.

Scott

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As the result of this correspondence, I met up with Scott Sayre on October 25th while in Cincinnati for the Museum Computer Network. The following pages document our meeting and flight together. View the meeting and flight