Ski Utah!

Jason and I just got back from a long weekend trip to Utah courtesy of cheapo tickets from Delta. I got to see his home and also meet his grandparents who weren't able to come to our wedding. Before this trip, I had only spent about a day and a half in Utah when I flew out for the wedding of two good friends (Hi, John and Amy!).

I'm just going to put it out there that I thought then and I think now that it is kind of surreal being in a place where most everyone you meet is Mormon, especially after living in places like Chicago and New England for the past 10 years where the Mormons aren't really around in high numbers. I can see the pros and cons. For one, it would be kind of comforting and comfortable to be surrounded by people who have a similar belief system. However, I can also see how it might be very insular and limiting. Plus, as a liberal Mormon, I'm kind of atypical, particularly in Utah. And I do like diversity. I hear Salt Lake City itself is a bit more diverse.

A couple more cons: you can only get recycling service if you pay extra. Jason's parents don't and I felt wracked with guilt every time I threw away a plastic bottle. Also, you really do have to drive everywhere.* There is no walking. Although everyone could walk to church, which is about .2 miles from everyone in the wards' houses, but no one does. Jason and I walked home from church on Sunday. We're fightin' the power. Actually, he just didn't want to wait around while his parents did the post-church chatting.

More pros: it was fun hanging out with various members of Jason's family, houses are comparatively cheap, and OH MY GOSH the MOUNTAINS!

I grew up surrounded by mountains in Tucson and even though I enjoyed them, I realize now how much I took them for granted. When we were flying into Salt Lake I looked out the window of the plane and felt in awe of the mountains. That didn't go away for the entire time we were there.

I mean, seriously:

The mountains and hills of New England are lovely, but there's just something about the mountains in the west.

We ate Mexican food, went to the symphony, spent time with family and went cross-country skiing, which was a first for me. I've never done any kind of skiing. I think I look pretty awesome.

I really enjoyed it, although people are not kidding when they tell you it's hard**. We went around the trail a couple of times, and then Jason and his dad went around once more while I waited for them and enjoyed the peaceful scenery.

I also took the opportunity to practice going down the big hill at the end of the trail a few times without an audience. I say "big hill", but it was really more of a slight incline that inclined a tiny bit more than all the other inclines on the trail. But to someone who has never done any type of skiing, it was huge and I went fast and it was awesome once I got over the fear. I fell on my butt once. While I was standing still. As long as I kept moving, I was good.

On our last day, we went over to my friend Martha's house, because she happens to live in the same town as Jason's parents. Martha and I were best friends from the ages of 10-13, or thereabouts. We reconnected via email and phone about 3 years ago, but hadn't seen each other in 14 years. So Jason and I went over and had breakfast with her and met her two kids (who were very sick, but still cute). It was great to see her and catch up.

Overall, I give Utah two thumbs up.

* To everyone in Boston who thinks Providence is SO FAR AWAY, I would just like to point out that it's no further than the distance between Provo and Salt Lake.
** However, I also got really, really winded just walking up a hill on the BYU campus. Stupid high altitude!