Higginson: Hoping and expecting

“Hope for the best. Expect the worst!”

Those six words were uttered by Mel Brooks years ago during his “12 Chairs” comedy routine. As I have always prided myself in being an optimist (which my family can attest), I wonder, does this phrase ooze optimism or pessimism?

Taken in its best light, it seems I might lean more to expect the worst, but hoping for the best, which if true, depicts me more a pragmatic than an optimist. The expecting part seems to be realistic, while the hoping aspect resonates optimism.

Last week I was discussing the NCAA basketball tournament. One of my colleagues (who is a heavy sports better) graduated from North Carolina and I surmised that he certainly would be putting some money on his beloved alma mater. Not quite. He replied, “I will place a few hundred on the opposing team, which will be a win-win. If my Tar Heels are victorious, I will be very happy and a few bucks wagered and lost will be well worth it. But if they lose, I still make out OK.” He certainly seemed to be hoping for the best, but expected the worse. Actually, this defense mechanism might more correctly be the attempt to soften our own expectations, or those of others in an attempt to cushion potential disappointment.

In 1986, during my first City Council election campaign I was going up against three incumbents and I was not only a dark horse in the race, but in true racing vernacular, I was a long shot. Understanding that simple fact, I cautioned my wife that, notwithstanding all the work that had been put into the cause, she should not expect a victory on election night. I was expecting the worst, but hoping for the best, and unbeknownst to me, my wife was hoping for the best and not even contemplating the worst.

The first few hours of election night passed before returns started coming in (which were absentee ballots only) and I was in eighth place out of 13 candidates. My wife abruptly left the house and began walking around the block. It was at that moment I realized she truly had thought I had a real shot at being elected. Two hours passed and she finally returned to the house. In the meantime, additional returns had come in and I had moved up to second place. I ultimately prevailed. Her joy and excitement had never been tempered by even the thought of thinking the worst, and that moment in time for her has never fully been duplicated over the years, except maybe with the births of our grandchildren.

A few best-versus-worst or worst-versus-best scenarios have started to compound lately.

The San Diego Padres are trying to lower fan expectations (though the team is playing well in spring training and is splitting at the seams with young talent). They are going to extremes to remind everyone they are still a few years from contending. They expect the worst, but hope the best, which helps explain a recent signing of a well-compensated free agent.

The City Council recently approved the three-building “Trading Post” development on Poway Road in an area that for years the city has struggled with, a location the city has at times expected the worst, but hoped for the best. It seems to have some real positive legs.

There always appears to be someone bucking the trend. Congratulations to 30-year Poway High School wrestling coach Wayne Brandstetter. With a winning record that almost seems mythical, he’s had one constant mindset we would all be wise to emulate: “Hope for the best. Expect the best!”

Higginson served on the Poway City Council from 1986 to 2014.