The Writings of the Author as a Young Woman

Actual home of my Jensen great-great-grandparents in Brigham City. It's supposed to be the house in the book, but... let's just say I took liberties with when it was built.

When I was 13, I lived in Utah during its centennial. One of our class projects for my fabulous English/history class was to write a story about Utah history (preferably about our own ancestors). While unpacking boxes in my office tonight, I found my book and thought it'd be fun to transcribe the text. Kind of a fun stroll down memory lane. The fact that the book is dedicated to my grandma, who is one of my favorite folks in the world and who won't be here much longer, makes it all the more tender. 

The story's not perfect by any means -- the ending is pretty rushed, the likely result of perpetual Christa procrastination, and the development needs work -- but it's not half bad! Makes me wonder what I could've accomplished if I'd pursued writing more. "But Christa," you say, "you are a writer. Professionally. For a decade now, hon." To which I say... sure... but... as a trade. Not for creativity's sake. We've discussed this before. There's a difference. Still... time to finally write that book, methinks.

To let you in on a little running gag... my grandmother is descended from two lines of Jensens. So the guy that Emma's family keeps trying to push at her is actually another one of my ancestors, too, just on the other side. 

Also, fun fact: researching this book was the first time I ever went on the interwebs!!! I distinctly remember the librarian taking me to a small computer lab and showing me this newfangled World Wide Web circa 1996. In fact, I still remember how the webpage about the Brigham City Co-op looked!

And now, without further adieu... in unedited, 13-year-old Christa prose...

Emma

by Christa Jeanne [Last Name]

I dedicate this book to my wonderful grandmother, Doris Elaine Jensen [Last Name], who helped me so much with ideas and took me on a historical tour for illustrations. Thanks for the fun day!

*   *   *

"Emma! Eh-maah!" The exasperated cry rang throughout the newly built brick house. "Emma Lovisa Jensen, come here right now!"

The wedding bells that were ringing in Emma's mind quickly faded as her daydream stopped soddenly. "Coming, Mother," she replied. An embroidery needle pricked her index finger as she hastily set the white handkerchief down. "Ow!" Emma cried out in pain as she hurried to get a bandage of some sort. She wrapped a strip of tan linen around the bleeding fingertip. "Yes, mama?"

"Emma," Valana Jensen asked her daughter, "would you please go to the general store and buy a pound of sugar?" As soon as Em's mouth opened in protest, Lana hurried on. "We're having company for tea. Elder Snow and Sister Snow will be here, so I was planning to fix kringle, but there is no more sugar. Ask that Isaac Jensen to carry them home for you. He is so nice," she barely finished. Emma rolled her eyes. Lana just handed her daughter a dollar bill. "Oh, Em, could you pick up a newspaper? Your father wants to see who the new President is. Good ol' U.S. Grant was running." Sighing, she entered the kitchen. The smell of sweet cake dough and chopped nuts filled the air. "Emma just isn't interested in getting married like Belana, is she, Abby?" she asked the golden retriever. Abby just wagged her golden-gray tail sympathetically.

*   *   *

Emma sighed as she bought the pound of sugar. Why didn't Mother think that she couldn't find someone to marry. Besides, she was only sixteen and Brigham City was full of guys. Anyway, everyone knew that Isaac liked Lenora Hansen. Just because Belana was getting married didn't mean that Emma was ready to get married. She paid for the sugar and left the store. Oh, well. Emma began humming the wedding march as she exited. If only she could find the right guy --

"Ugh!" Emma pushed her reddish-brown hair out of her face and looked up from the pavement. The sugar was safe and sound in its bag. Next tot he bad was one hand. Emma followed the arm that was connected to the hand.

Another hand was extended to her. She took the hand and rose. Rising, Emma, followed the hand to an arm and then to a face. A handsome face. 

"I'm sorry," the person said apologetically. "My name is Brigham. Brigham Andersen."

"Hello. I am Emma Jensen," she said softly. Her heart fluttered.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Jensen," Brigham said politely. He picked up the bag of sugar and walked, following Emma's lead. She walked up the street, blushing. Her blue eyes met his. She was so busy watching Brigham instead of the street that she walked straight into Aunt Mary Maria, affectionately known as Aunt Ryer.

"Hello, I mean, good morning, Aunt Mary Maria," Emma said timidly.

"You needn't be so formal, Emma. We are not at a formal affair, are we?" Aunt Ryer said crisply. "Should not you be hurrying along. Elder and Sister Snow are joining us for tea. So is Brother M.C. Jensen. I hear that he has a fine son, Isaac." Emma laughed, in spite of herself. Aunt Ryer left as they approached Emma's house. Brigham stepped inside at Emma's invitation. His curly brown hair was tangled from the breeze outside.

"May I call on you tomorrow?" he asked.

"Umm, uh, sure," Emma dreamily whispered. His brown eyes twinkled as he left. She went back inside and ran to her room to change for tea. As Emma raced up the stairs, she nearly tripped over Abby. She just looked up at Emma. Emma smiled, scratched behind Abby's ear, and went to Belana's room. Belana was sitting on her bed, monogramming her trousseau. Her brown curls fell down her back. "Bel," asked Emma, "can I borrow your midnight blue satin?"

"Mm-hmm," Belana answered dreamily. Emma was amazed. Bel never let anyone touch that dress. Emma just grabbed the dress and hurried before Bel could change her mind. After she changed, she pulled up her hair and sighed. Brigham was so sweet, but did he like her? Maybe. If only they could go to some sort of a--

"An ice cream social!" exclaimed Elder Snow. Lorenzo Snow was a short man with wire-framed glasses that always slipped down his nose. "That's a magnificent idea, Brother Jensen. What do you think, M.C.?" he asked. One wiry white hair stuck straight up from his head. When they saw Emma, the men were very secretive about the social. Hmmm, thought Emma. A social! That's just the thing. But how to get him to ask? That was the question. Emma hurried to help her mother in the kitchen. The traditional Danish kringle was finished. The house smelled of cinnamon and spice. Emma cut the kringle and dished it up. As she served it to her brothers and sisters, she laughed. Her brothers were dressed in their Sunday clothes, which they all despised. The eldest brother, Thomas, who was twelve, had his unruly black hair slicked back. Little Andrew, who was only two, had his messy blond hair parted down the middle. He beamed angelically. Little Hiram Jr. was wearing shoes that were two sizes  too big, but no one would notice. It was hilarious!

After tea, six of the nine children ran outside to play with Aunt Ryer in hot pursuit. The men went into the study to discuss plans for "a secret." Mother, Belana, and Susanna, the fourteen-year-old, went into the kitchen to wash the dishes. Emma went outside to the porch and sat on the porchswing that Father had built with Thomas the summer before. The sunset lit up the sky and set clouds on fire. Emma just sat there and smiled. It was wonderful. It reminded her of Brigham.

*   *   *

Emma took her hair out from the curlers that Belana had put in her hair. She was just barely finished when Abby ran into the room and tugged at Emma's dress. A wave of fear washed over her. "What's wrong, girl?" she gently asked. Abby dragged her downstairs to the kitchen. Mother was just lying there, lifeless. Emma screamed a blood-curdling scream. "Belana! Aunt Ryer! Susie! Somebody, HELP!!"

Emma ran down the street, hair flying, as she ran to Doc Marten's house and pounded on the door. When the doctor answered, she grabbed his arm and ran back home. She led Doc to her mother's body. Little Andrew was crying with Lena, the four-year-old. Doc just sat there, trying to figure out what had happened.

Doc Marten said that she had had a stroke. That now Mama's left side would be partially paralyzed. She could walk, with a cane. Doc said that we were lucky she wasn't badly hurt. Lucky, huh. "I don't think we're all that lucky," grumbled William, the six-year-old.

"Me too," whined Hannah, the eight-year-old. Emma just sighed. Now what, she wondered. Mama was okay, but she couldn't go to the social now. Not with mother in the bad shape she was in. Belana had gone to the social with George. How shallow. What a lack of emotion! Brigham would be here any --

Knock, knock! Now Brig was here. What should she tell him? She opened the door. There was Brigham, holding a dozen daisies. "Well, Cinderella, shall we go to the ball?" he asked. She looked down and blushed. Her feet were bare and she was wearing an old gray wool dress.

"Um, Brigham, I can't go." He looked crestfallen. The daisies hung limply from his hand. My mother had a stroke and so I really need to stay with her." Emma lightly put a hand on his arm. "Maybe we can go to see the joining of the rails. It's in two weeks. I'm sorry."

Brigham looked up and forced a disappointed smile. "That's okay," he said as he handed Emma the flowers. "I'm sorry too."

*   *   *

"Wow," Hiram Jr. cried excitedly as the golden spike was tapped into the laurelwood tie. Brigham and Emma just smiled at each other. Now Mother knew that Emma wanted to get married. Father hugged Mother as she hobbled forward on her cane. Emma smiled. Things can turn out well, with a little sugar.

About the Author

Christa Jeanne [Last Name] was born on 30 August 1982, in La Crescenta, California. She grew up in Glendale and La Crescenta, both in California. At age 13, she moved. She currently lives in Provo, Utah, with her father, step-mother, 15-year-old brother, and three cats: Anita, Maria, and Angus. Christa is a bookworm and an avid photographer. She loves cats, dogs, and the Beatles. She hopes to write another book soon.

Draper Debrief

I know, I know... when you hear "Draper," you think this - am I right?

When I think Draper, however, I think this:

Tonight is the last night I will for sure be sleeping in my darling lil' room on Hawthorne Hill Lane, and the reality that I will, in fact, be moving in less than 48 hours is setting in. It feels so surreal! Considering how thrilled I've been about the move, I didn't at all anticipate getting sentimental.

But it's me. Duh. Of COURSE I'm going to get all nostalgic and schmaltzy about it, because, hey, that's how I roll.

And so, without further adieu, here's a roundup of favorite Draper moments and things that I will most assuredly miss:

•  Panoramic views of the Salt Lake Valley, especially at night, when the valley - and its many temples - twinkled.
• Living so, so close to the Draper Temple - and enjoying how it came to feel like home. This is the temple in which I did so much work for my own family, and that alone will make it special in my heart forever.

• Being roommates with Christina, my best friend and No. 1 partner-in-crime for the better part of the last eight years. Late-night chats, planning our Christmas parties as only two communications professionals could (think objectives, strategies, branding, identity - yup. We're geeks.), discussing careers, politics, dating, and just about anything and everything under the sun. She's been a wonderful sounding board, especially because we're so different, she's able to open my eyes to points I wouldn't have seen otherwise. I'll miss her no-nonsense counsel and wise perspective, not to mention her just-plain-awesomeness. Oh, and her cookies. Have I mentioned her cookies? Yup. Total selling point.

• My ward, shockingly enough, and my stake. I didn't really connect with it too deeply, but that said, I really do like the people there. I may not have made a lot of lasting friendships from it, but I did get to meet some pretty awesome people, and I looked forward to seeing people each week with whom I may not cross paths again down the road. 
• Cooking in my kitchen! It is, hands down, the most spacious kitchen I've ever had, and it was in this kitchen that I went from being a good cook to becoming a true gourmand, stretching both my repertoire and technique. That space is so chock full of fun moments, from figuring out how to poach an egg or roll a stuffed pork tenderloin to doing A/B testing on everything from mini-French silk pies to oatmeal cookies, to making batch after batch of cookies for people I love. 
• Seeing the friends I did make on a weekly basis. A few people in that ward truly changed my life and touched my heart, reaching out to me in my hardest moments this year. To them, I will be forever grateful, and while I know we will stay in touch, I'll miss seeing their smiling faces so conveniently and frequently.

• Being a hop, skip, and jump away from downtown Salt Lake City, a place I dearly, dearly love.
• Meandering through the old neighborhoods to admire the gorgeous historic homes and appreciating the lovely architecture as well as the lives of the people who built them forever ago
• Gazing at the stars from Suncrest, pondering the beauty of the heavens.
• Calling my darling yellow townhouse home. It's been a good place, and I will forever cherish the memories associated with it - including the difficult ones, for they brought about so much growth and wisdom that I wouldn't trade for the world.

Thanks for the memories, Draper. Oh, well, it was swell while it lasted...

Love of My {Professional} Life

It is a wonderful feeling to realize just how in love you are with the one to whom you're married.

Or, in my case, the one by whom I am employed. 

This week is Founders Week here at my company, which is a weeklong celebration of our company's history, culture, values, and all those special things that make us who we are. Between that and working on some company-centric projects (including our new-and-improving careers page, in which I've tried to put our unique culture into words and write a top-10 list of why someone would want to join our team), I've been filled with absolute adoration for my job all over again. What a huge blessing it is! I get to spend my workweek with hundreds of amazing, talented, fun people, and I love expending my energy for a company that truly values its employees. From past experience, I know just how rare and quality that is.

I've said it before, but there really are a plethora of parallels between dating and career. Maybe I see them so much because that's where I place probably 90% of my energy and focus, but the list goes on and on -- interviewing for a job is like a first date, some jobs end because of dealbreakers (like all of my jobs in California -- they all had draws that led me to get involved, but each had major drawbacks that I couldn't handle long term), and it gets easy to look back longingly at the good times of the past while glossing over the frustrations (or vice versa, in the case of one straight-up abusive job that still makes me shudder to this day!).

But a marriage? Well, I don't have first-hand experience with that one in the relationship sense... but I do love finally having found my match in my career. It's funny -- at first glance, I wouldn't have expected my company to be such a perfect fit. I mean, a property insurance software company? In Utah Valley, of all places? Truth be told, I applied as a back up, just in case I didn't get the glamorous social media PR job in Salt Lake that I truly wanted. Of course, as time has gone passed, I've been SO glad I didn't get that PR job -- agency life is a grind, and I really prefer working in a collaborative, in-house environment. And how often do I hear that advice in dating?! "Say yes to dates even if you aren't sure you'll be a match because you never know what you'll find upon getting to know someone better." "I never would've thought my husband would be The One until we started dating -- he wasn't at all what I imagined I'd want, but he's everything I need." "Don't worry if it doesn't work out -- you'll end up with the right one eventually." (Reminds me of the time I was thrilled to finally have plans with a crush -- only to go on a blind date the weekend before, get totally smitten, and end up going from the crush's house to a second date with Mr. Weekend. The crush is a great guy, but he's not the perfect fit like the date was - and I don't know that I would've picked the date out of a lineup as a great match if we'd just met in a social setting instead of being set up.)

But I digress.

Careers are so much like long-term relationships, too, in that you really have to work for them. I mean, duh, you'll work at work -- but I'm talking more about honoring the commitment you've made. Life is not all rainbows and sunshine. There are tradeoffs and deficiencies at any job, just like how you'll inevitably marry someone imperfect because no one is perfect. But how wonderful it is to be able to work through those slumps and frustrations, to watch things improve (which can only happen when there's longevity to create perspective), and to develop a bond of trust that comes with patient perseverance. There are so many more lessons to be learned in working through the ups and downs than there are by hopping around, and the payoff is so rich. It's rewarding to feel security, to know that your efforts are appreciated, to have reciprocity. It fosters an environment in which you can really let your guard down and give your all instead of worrying about layoffs, backstabbers, condescending bosses, and a number of things I've dealt with at other jobs. Here I feel safe. My coworkers are my friends; I enjoy spending time with them on and off the clock. Some of them are among my closest friends and confidantes these days. I love our campus here so much that I didn't leave until dark last night -- after a mediocre date, I opted to lay out on our lawn and read a book in the beauty of twilight instead of driving home. It feels like home.

I enjoy my job thoroughly and love coming to work -- and that joy and security permeate the rest of my life. I am constantly amazed and humbled by how many doors have opened in my life, thanks to this job, and how many ways it's made me a better person. (And the same can be said for my career overall. Hard to believe I resented it for so many years!!! Even the worst experiences have made for some of the best lessons.) Had you told me three years ago that this is how things would pan out, I wouldn't have believed it -- or at least I wouldn't have believed I'd be as blissfully happy as I am. But here I am, grateful as can be for a wonderful match.

I only hope that someday I can find a guy who's as constant, appreciative, and inspirational as my company is. I can't imagine settling for anything less!

Party of One

{This post along the lines of creative nonfiction / personal essay is something I penned in real time while waiting for Fictionist's Rooftop Concert in downtown Provo almost exactly a year ago. It was an interesting experience--I started writing without knowing how it would end. Thankfully, the ending came, and it was lovely. Enjoy.}

Under an open, blue sky, dotted with the hazy, thin clouds of waning sunlight, musicians checked the sound for the first concert of the summer atop a parking structure in the old-fashioned downtown of a college town. The crowd streamed in—pairs, trios, groups of all ages, families, college students, couples old enough to be the artists’ parents or grandparents.

At the front of the bunch sat two striped blue beach chairs—one occupied by a tall brunette in a lavender cardigan, the other filled by a purse, a book, a couple of blankets, and a bottle of VitaminWater Zero.

Alone.

At 28, rolling solo was hardly a new experience for the gal. Years before, after missing a much-anticipated Andy Warhol retrospective at the L.A. County Museum of Art for lack of a fellow aesthete, the freckle-faced 19 year old vowed to never skip an experience or adventure she craved, even if it meant going alone.

And she hadn’t. Growing independent and strong, she moved to Seattle alone at 20, savoring every second of that long two-day drive from her native California (minus those miserable two hours of food poisoning, of course—never get a shake from a roadside shack in Glendale, Oregon!). Alone she graduated from BYU and returned to California, leaving behind her best friends who had all wed or become engaged within a calendar year. Alone she’d made a career, taken trips, made major life decisions, and tried with all her heart to embrace the independence (and ignore the loneliness) that came with her singleness.

And now, alone she sat, uneasily awaiting her favorite band’s outdoor concert.

The empty chair wasn’t a ruse exactly—after all, her roommates said they might come, or she could possibly run into a friend… acquaintance… someone or anyone who’d appreciate a comfortable chair and warm, fleecy throw blanket.

Or, she realized with a resigned sign, she just might be alone in the crowd, accompanied by nothing but her blankets and an empty chair.

“How much longer?” she wondered as she scanned the crowd, a faint sadness tempering the warmth in her hazel eyes. The masses began to fill in all around, crowding in the space she’d so carefully reserved hours earlier. A handsome acquaintance passed by, and in his brown eyes she could read the question—“Is she alone?”—or at least so she thought. Another familiar face breezed past, an old high-school acquaintance offering a warm hello without stopping; he probably assumed that second seat was otherwise reserved. And even if it wasn’t, it wouldn’t be spacious enough for him and his wingmen. After all, who goes to a concert alone?

“How much longer until I get a yes or no from Elise or Christina, until I know if they're coming?”

But the question went deeper.

How much longer would she have to be a party of one? How many more friends would fall in love, have babies, grow their families to two, three, four, five… while she stood on the sidelines, alone? How many more crushes and relationships would come and go, leaving her with a broken heart and the lingering question of whether she would have been better off not trying in the first place? The brides and grooms got younger each year; the friends’ children just got older and older instead.

Then a movement caught her eye—an auburn-haired mother struggling with a beautiful toddler daughter, searching for a spot within the crowd.

“You’re welcome to sit here,” the brunette offered, moving her belongings from the extra chair.

“Are you sure it’s not saved for someone already?” the young mother asked.

“No, it’s all yours,” she replied with a smile.

With that, the mother and her child settled in, promising to make room for the brunette’s friends when (“if,” the brunette thought with a twinge of sadness) they came. The women chatted, enjoying the sounds of the opening acts and the connection inherent in friendly faces and open hearts. The brunette’s friends did come—but first came the new friendship forged with the young mother and her baby girl, if only for that beautiful, warm spring evening. 

Unattached, solo, single—call it what you will, being a party of one is just being a party of one, no more, no less. But alone? No, alone is a choice—a decision to view life through the lens of heartbreaking isolation. And that evening, the brunette learned the valuable lesson that being a party of one doesn’t mean you have to be alone. 

My Utah Bucket List

You know that frustrating situation in dating where, in theory, you and That One Person would be a great match, and you have fun together when you go out, but for whatever reason the chemistry just isn't igniting?

Well, that pretty much sums up my relationship with Utah for the last two years.

Somehow, no matter how many great things have stemmed from living in the 801—traveling up a storm, living within 30 minutes of many of my closest friends, dating amazing guys, getting out of debt, going to grad school, having a wonderful career with amazing colleagues, etc.—my feelings toward Utah continue to be tepid. We had a lovely summer, but things just haven't been clicking lately, cooling with the weather.

It's time to fall in love—and of the deep, intense, can't-imagine-life-without-you variety, since life is likely to keep me in Utah for keeps the longer I live here. And really, that would not be a bad thing. The more I get out and experience what makes Utah awesome, the less I pine for greener, more glamorous grass.

So, here are my Utah to-dos for 2012 (and beyond, since I know I won't finish these in a year!):

• Dine at the Serving Time/Hard Times Cafe - No joke, the state penitentiary right by my place has a cafe, and it actually has a 90% approval rating on Urbanspoon! Definitely gotta give this place a shot.
• Spend more time in downtown Salt Lake and Sugar House - Seriously, when I'm up there, I somehow feel way better about living in Utah. It's just a matter of making it happen. After all, I'm only 20 minutes away! That's closer than Disneyland was to my place in Orange County, and we went at least once a month on average.
• Learn to ski - Which I've started and... well... lesson #1 was a disaster. Here's hoping the next three are better.
• Tour de Temple - Wouldn't it be amazing to visit each of the 12 operating temples in Utah? I've always wanted to do this, but I'm finally going to make it happen (and preferably in time for my 30th birthday). Yesterday I started with Provo - one down, 11 to go!
• Play Twister at the Four Corners - Seriously. Tell me this would not be the coolest thing ever?! It's not just a Utah bucket lister. This is on my overall bucket list. Just gotta find a BYUite to rent the gigantic Twister board from the on-campus rental place in time for the trip...
• Hike the Narrows and/or the Subway - I am totally intrigued with this whole hiking-in-water concept. Both of these hikes sound just plain incredible, and after last summer's awesome hike, I'm itching to do more of the type that stretch me into new adventures.
• Visit Antelope Island at sunset and see the bison - Kind of a random one, but hey, why not? Same with seeing the spiral jetty and the Bonneville salt flats.
• Make the national parks loop: Bryce, Zion, Arches, Monument Valley, Moab - I've been to some of these, but it's been at least 20 years (well, except Zion, which was about 8 years ago). And it makes me a little sick to be able to say I did things like this 20 years ago. Anyways. It's about time to get out there again! 
• See a play the Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City and at Tuacahn - How I've never done either, I don't even know!
• See Timp Caves / Hike Mt. Timpanogos / Hike the Y (finally) - Again, super close and convenient, and yet I've never done these. Ridiculousness. Both hikes overlap with 30 by 30, so there's all the more incentive to get to it!
• Research in the Family History Library - After all, while my dad's family history work has pretty much been taken care of, my mom's side is all left to me, and all four of her grandparents were immigrants. I've done all the "low-hanging fruit" of family history work, so to speak, but I haven't a clue of how to dig into the next generations.
• Visit the new Natural History Museum - Love me some museum goodness. 
• Go curling at the Olympic Oval - Curling. Seriously. Most amusing Olympic sport out there, in my humble opinion. It's like bowling mixed with sweeping. Neither of which I particularly enjoy, honestly, but somehow combining them with ice just sounds too good to pass up.
• Stay at a houseboat on Lake Powell - Again, I've never done this, and isn't it just a typical must-do part of being a 20-something in Utah?
• Eat my way through all the restaurants on my list - I keep a sticky-note in my dayplanner of restaurant suggestions from friends, so whenever the opportunity comes up, I love trying these delicious places. Just in the last few months I've been to Finn's Cafe for a delightful brunch with my stepmom Betsy and her friend Lori, the amazing Thai place Sawadee, Lamb's Grill (which is the oldest still-operating restaurant in Utah!) with my friend Stacy, and the delightful bakery Gourmandise. Top picks to try sooner than later: Tarahumara in Midway and a bunch downtown (Bruges Belgium, Settebello, Bohemian Brewery, Copper Onion, and Atlantic Cafe, just to name a few).

And, lest you think I haven't done some living up in Utah so far, here are some things that would make the list, except I've already checked them off:

• Saw films at Sundance Film Festival
• Camped at Capitol Reef (although, admittedly, there's TONS more to see down there!)
• Sang on Temple Square
• Discovered Utah's local music scene
  

Falling in Love. Again.

Dear Utah,

You sure do know how to tug at my heartstrings. Just as I get thrilled at the prospect of breaking up with you for a more glamorous, exciting dreamboat named Manhattan, you reel me back in with reminders of the great things you offer -- the best job ever with tons of amazing people I adore, living close to the best friends a gal could ask for and delightful cousins aplenty, loads and loads of nearby temples, and let's not forget your natural beauty.

Pfffft.

I'll never get out of the 801 if you keep making me fall in love with you again. (Which you seem to do every time I get disenchanted, focusing on your flaws with tunnel vision that blocks out the benefits.) So... ummm... stop being so wonderful so I can chase my dreams? Because right now you're making me think maybe it's time to trade in my East Coast dreams for something even better: the amazing life I have right now.

And I'm just plain not sure how I feel about that.


Much love,
ChristaJeanne

Christa's Guide to Utah Dining

Image from Salt Lake Magazine

Ummmm... I love food. LOVE it. There's such an unending amount of possibilities with tastes and textures created from herbs, spices, and a myriad of ingredients. It's no wonder Creator is one of God's titles - how he came up with so many different foods, I'll never know, but I sure love experimenting with new combinations!

And, of course, I love being treated to the amazing creations of masters in the art of cooking. Long ago I asked friends for recommendations of where to eat in Utah. After all, when there's so much fun stuff to try, why stick to the same-olds? I have my favorites, but I also get giddy about crossing a new restaurant off of my to-try list.

A friend who recently moved to town asked for my recommendations, and so I typed this out and figured y'all might want to take a look, too. If you have any places I should add to the to-try list, do tell!!!

Oh, and it's not on the list... but I'm going to The Tree Room at Sundance with my friend Amy in conjunction with a Sundance screening next week. Sooooo exciting!!! It's said to be the best restaurant in Utah. It's also more of a special-occasion place... well... going to Sundance Film Festival counts as a "special occasion," right?

Places I've tried:

• Oasis Cafe (Downtown-ish) -- This place is such a hidden gem. It really feels like an oasis from the city, in a relaxed garden atmosphere. Cuisine is American upscale, very California-ish.
• Blue Plate Diner (Sugar House) -- This is my fav breakfast spot up here so far. It was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives on Food Network. It's total diner food with a retro feel.
• Sawadee (Downtown) -- Amazing Thai food, reasonable prices. It came recommended by several friends, and when I finally went, I could see why!
• Red Iguana (Downtown) -- Hands down the best legit Mexican food in Salt Lake. They're known for their moles ("moh-lay," the sauce, not to be confused with the rodent). The ambiance is awesome, too. It's ALWAYS busy, so I advise going at an off time or trying their sister restaurant around the corner, which is the same food. They also have a spot in the City Creek Mall food court.
• Lamb's Grill (Downtown) -- This place is awesome!!! It's the oldest still-operating restaurant in Utah, and you feel transported to the 1940s with its dark wood paneling, teeny booths, white linens, etc. Food is traditional American fare, and it's pretty great.
• Gourmandise (Downtown) -- Great little bakery. It's pretty new, and I was really impressed when I went. 
• Blue Lemon (Downtown and Alpine) -- This is one of my favorites! Fresh, inventive takes on traditional items. It's high quality without high prices. I've tried lots of things and have yet to find one I didn't like.
• Finn's Cafe (Sugar House) -- Adorable Scandinavian restaurant in a tiny, 1950s-esque building. It's known as a breakfast spot, although they do serve lunch as well. I recommend the pyttipanna.
• J Dawgs (Provo and Orem) -- I'm not a hotdog fan but am hooked on this place. So cheap, so delicious (and J of J Dawgs = Jayson, my friend Heidi's husband! I've done some consulting for them. Love to support local businesses!)
• Communal (Provo) -- Delicious food made with local ingredients. I've only been for breakfast but really enjoyed it. Great atmosphere, too.
• Malawi's Pizza (Provo) -- Another one of my favorites. Their thin-crust pizzas are delish, and for each meal, they donate a meal to a group that feeds folks in Malawi. Win-win!
• The Sonora Grill (Ogden) -- If you're ever up in Ogden, this is a must-visit! It's my favorite Mexican food in Utah, even more so than Red Iguana. It's in Ogden's entertainment district, which is a happening place.

Places I have yet to try (so I can't vouch for them yet):

• Bruges Waffles and Frites (Downtown) -- Belgian street food, particularly the "stroopwaffles." My cousins who've been to Europe RAVED about this place!
• Copper Onion (Downtown) -- Fine dining made with local, seasonal ingredients. I've heard tons of good things but haven't gone yet - it's on the pricey end.
• Atlantic Cafe (Downtown) -- Balkan cuisine
• New Yorker (Downtown) -- One of the best fine dining places in Utah, so I hear. All the Gastronomy Inc. restaurants have great reputations.
• Caffe Niche (Downtown) -- Creative, fresh, healthy, and delicious. Known as a great breakfast spot, but they serve lunch and dinner, too.
• Forage Restaurant (Downtown) -- Another fine dining place
• Settebello (Downtown) -- Delicious Naples-style pizzeria
• Siegfried's (Downtown) -- German delicatessan
• Bayleaf Bar and Grub (Downtown) -- Interesting fusion of Asian and Southern comfort foods
  
• The Bayou (Downtown) -- Cajun-inspired food in a low-key setting
• Art Garden (Murray)  -- I know nothing about this place except the name, and that it's supposed to be good?
• Left Fort Grill (Millcreek) -- Their slogan is "Where Gourmet Meets Cafe." Breakfast and lunch only.
• Bohemian Brewery (Midvale) -- Czech-style food
• Ruth's Diner (Emigration Canyon) -- A Salt Lake legend, it was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. I've heard this place is best on a summer evening, when they have live music playing and outdoor seating.
• Log Haven (Millcreek Canyon) -- Located in a historic cabin mansion in the forest, it's been rated highly for both food and atmosphere. Dinner only, reservations needed.
• The Homestead Resort (Midway) -- It's closed until April but has a couple of restaurants that are well rated.
• Tommy's Texas BBQ (Heber) -- Winner of Best of State award, good old-fashioned BBQ grub
• Snake Creek Grill (Heber) -- Bold, unpretentious cuisine, so says their website. My friend Aaron said this is their go-to special occasion place - good, quality food without a fine dining price.
• Tarahumara Restaurant (Midway) -- Another recommendation from Aaron, it's said to have some of the best Mexican food in the state.

A Love Letter for the Beehive State

Dear Utah,

A couple of months ago, after an all-too-delightful trip home, I started to pen you this letter:

I don't know how to tell you this, but... I think we need to see other people. I'm just not ready for exclusivity with you yet. You see, I do love you - but I'm not in love with you.

This weekend I spent some time with my ex, California, and... well... all these feelings came rushing back. I'd forgotten what a warm, breezy relationship that was. I know there's been heat between us in the past, but things have been so cold and downright icy lately. I just had forgotten what it's like to spend time with such a sunny personality.

Clever, right? But I was wrong. So wrong.

In the last several weeks, I've fallen in love with you all over again. I've started thinking about our illustrious past together, from those all-too-awkward (yet immensely formative) middle school days to the unabashed awesomeness of BYU (which I started with moving into Shipp Hall 11 years ago today - can you believe it?!). Surprising to say that in the almost-16 years of our on-again, off-again relationship, I've spent almost as much time "on" with you as I've spent with California. You've been so good to me, and I'm sorry that I've been so lukewarm during this latest go.

In my defense, this round got off to a rough start, but wow... lately... things are electric! I've enjoyed seeing new facets of your personality, from the rugged strength and formidable beauty witnessed on our recent weekend getaway to Capitol Reef to spicy new adventures at the Red Iguana - and it's only June! There's a whole lot of summer to enjoy together - Farmer's Markets in downtown Salt Lake City, pool parties and Seven Peaks days aplenty, outdoor concerts in the balmy warmth of Utah's summer evenings, camping, camping and more camping...

You have so, so much to offer - I'm sorry that I just didn't give you a fair chance at first, figuring I knew what I was dealing with upon our reconciliation. Truth is, I ought to know better than to judge or categorize anyone or anything upon first glance. There's always much more depth and possibility beneath the surface if one takes the time to uncover it.

And, really, we have so many tender memories together - first kiss (10 years ago!), first heartbreak (which, in hindsight, was sooooo not a big deal - but at 18, everything is a big deal!), forging amazing friendships that last to the present day, gobbling up each educational opportunity like a starving waif, graduating after many all-nighters and last-minute cram sessions. My life really, truly began at BYU. It was when I finally burst free of my fetters and spread my wings, when I broke through the limiting cocoon of childhood and soared as a butterfly, flitting through the ups and downs of those early adult years.

A hall at Farrer Middle School that no longer exists - my old school's been bulldozed this summer! Sadness!

Oh, and let's not overlook the magnitude of our first round together in middle school, a time that's been on my mind a lot lately (seeing as I work with two classmates from that year). How many 13-year-olds have the fortitude to tell a bad parent that they're done putting up with that crap - only to flee for refuge and find they've jumped from the frying pan into the fire? But that year was the best of times along with the worst of times in so many ways. That's when I became a Latter-day Saint, embracing the faith that defines me so much. That's when I was able to break away from the reputations of childhood and forge a new beginning, to strengthen ties with myself, independent from parents and peers. Was it fun? No, not really - but would I trade it for anything? Never, ever, ever. It made me who I am today, for it's in those most difficult moments that character develops and grows. That kind of dividend is worth every investment of blood, sweat and tears paid. Thank you for always being so good to me, letting me lean on the proverbial shoulder of your majestic mountains. The sight of Timpanogos will forever be one of refuge and peace to my heart.

I'm still not sure if I'm ready for a permanent commitment, Utah - but I am ready for exclusivity. It's time. I look forward to exploring the possibilities of this relationship, digging layer by layer into just how amazing you are. Let's have fun this summer, shall we?

Much love,

Christa Jeanne

On Cocoons, Roots and Wings

Photo by nickso

Well, friends, I'm sad to say that I missed my hot date with Errol Flynn tonight. In trying to finish a project at work, I got to the BYU library too late - I wasn't actually late to the screening, but the theater had already filled. Sad day!

Dejectedly, I drowned my sorrows in some Creamery chocolate milk and a mint brownie (of course) - while taking a lovely little nighttime stroll around my alma mater.

Being back around BYU has been a funny experience for me since leaving six years ago. As I've mentioned before, every square inch of that campus is crammed full of some memory for me. "There's the hill where I had a DTR with my First Kiss after he ripped my heart from my chest and did a flamenco on it. It was so rewarding to stand up for myself in that situation!" (For the record, First Kiss and I are still good friends - in hindsight, it wasn't that bad... but at 18, it felt like the WORLD, y'know?)

"That's the lawn where I studied for my San Francisco class - with my toes entwined in the grass, of course, feeling a little like a hippie at heart."

"Here's the route I loved to take between classes the year I liked the basketball star because our paths always crossed that way - not that he ever noticed, of course."

"It was while reading in this spot with Cute Humanities Boy that he mentioned he had a girlfriend. Oh, how devastating it was to see him the next fall and he was married!"

And the list goes on.

For years, this emotional barrage was so overwhelming, it made me dread campus visits. While it was fun to catch up with friends there while I was in town, somehow it always hurt deeply. I was so immensely happy during my college years. Sure, there were difficulties, but BYU fit me like a glove, and leaving it was easily one of the hardest things I've ever done - especially when my Orange County life never fit quite right. It was good enough... but I was never as happy there as I was at BYU, and campus strolls always served as a reminder of that, and of the missteps and mistakes I made as an undergrad. If only I knew then what I know now!

But tonight's stroll was... different.

Instead of viewing campus as a mausoleum wherein the unfulfilled dreams of my late teens and early 20s were laid to rest forever, tonight campus was this homey launching pad for the amazing life I have today: "There's the Kennedy Center, where I'd always pore over the Study Abroad programs and dream of going (but never apply). Ah, well, I'll get to Spain someday." "Oh, the fishbowl classroom where I took New Testament from Stephen E. Robinson (of Believing Christ fame) is now a study lounge! Things always change, even if they seem the same." The Testing Center, the SWKT, the JSB - everything seemed so peaceful and familiar in a totally positive way. It felt like a childhood home should be - warmly nostalgic, but so clearly not current life, and that's totally fine.

Which makes sense. I'm finally so secure and content with pretty much every aspect of my life. Really, I can't complain - and the happy memories from BYU no longer supersede my present because my present is way better than those days were. It's a great reminder of the vitality of living fully present in the moment, for we have experiences in their season for a reason. It's great for now, but it won't always be this way. Children grow up. Seasons change. Jobs come and go. Hair thins, waistlines thicken, and life marches merrily along. It's neither good nor bad - it just is.

These thoughts reminded me of a line in Sweet Home Alabama, where the dreamy Josh Lucas character reminds Reese Witherspoon's character that she "can have roots and wings." Isn't that such a wonderful truth?! We can appreciate where we've been for who it's made us today, but it should never hinder us from soaring into the unlimited possibilities the future holds, especially when there are important, unique roles for us to each fulfill in this great big world of ours. The joy is in discovering what that is and then making it happen - not in dwelling on the good times behind.

BYU was where I broke free of the limiting cocoon of my childhood and started to strengthen my wings. Thankfully the journey didn't end there - the best vistas and flowers and horizons are yet to come.

And with that, I'm going to go cuddle up with Jimmy Stewart AND Cary Grant.

Eat your heart out, Errol Flynn!

Sick of Homesickness

Well, friends, today is a big, red-letter anniversary: it's been three months since I rolled into Lehi to start my new life.

I had such grandiose plans to blog about all the amazing aspects of the life I've got up here - the fun new friends I've met (some of whom impress me so much!), the phenomenal job that I simply adore (pretty much my favorite of all the ones I've had - finally, a job with fun work, great colleagues and a decent paycheck!), and the gorgeous home in which I get to hang my hat (thanks, Mas and Ang, for taking me in!!!). And maybe tonight I will.

But for now, as much as I see the wonderful things in my life up here, and as much as I recognize that the heyday of my Orange County life had faded, I am still so painfully homesick, so keenly aware of feeling alone. Last night I attended a Super Bowl party at my friend Mark's place with about 20 of my friends, followed by the weekly round of group games like we do each Sunday night (SUCH a delightful tradition!!!). It was an absolute blast - and yet, when I got in my car, with my OCMCO CD playing one of my favorite songs, oh my goodness, all I could do was cry!

And so I did. Once home, I went inside, bundled up, sat on the porch, gazed at the stars and cried 'til I could cry no more. I don't understand why I had to up and leave a life I loved. I really, truly don't. I *get* that my life here is so much better in so many ways from what I left. I know that moving here was part of God's plan for my life, and I've been trying to make the most of it. But I still miss home so much - not only the friends and family, but the culture, the diversity, the beach, and even the little things like the cherished vistas of the valley where I lived, the site of Saddleback, palm trees. I loved my life there. Loved it so dearly. And I know that I can grow to love my life here like that in time - after all, I sure didn't love Orange County initially and only planned to be there as a stop along the road anyways - but I'm just not there yet.

I'll keep proceeding, one step at a time, and hopefully in time, the homesickness will fade. But today? Just know, California friends, that I miss you so, so very much.

And I promise a more upbeat Q1 report coming tonight, since I'm sure you're all getting sick of my whining.

Moving Is a Logistical Nightmare

In case you were wondering. Especially when the move involves:

• getting your stuff out a few weeks before you make the actual residence change,
• loading the rental truck the same days you're in a play (that you're also helping produce),
• taking your fridge (thereby being fridge-less for a few weeks),
• somehow divesting yourself of a 900-lb. piano without having to pay for piano movers (anyone want it? Free if you move it or hire movers yourself!!!), and
• boxing up all the stuff you've accumulated in five years post-college, which equals a LOT of stuff!

Ick. I'm thrilled about the move, but now that I'm doing the actual boxing up of stuff (and realizing that I'm really moving to Utah just in time for winter)? A little overwhelmed.

What I Did on My Summer Vacation

Honey, I'm home!

Vacation was fabulous. FABULOUS. Seriously, I had such a blast! The trip definitely merits some more in-depth chronicling (complete with some pics), but seeing as I'm terrible about blogging these days, here's a teaser list of what I did on my summer vacation:

* Star-gazed with a dear old friend in Cache Valley (near Logan)

* Went four-wheeling - and discovered that makes your back all tight and sore for a few days, lol. Who knew?

* Ate Cafe Rio. Twice.

* Went through the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house in flipflops - it was a spur-of-the-moment decision (and a wonderful one at that - thanks, Melissa!)

* Marveled at an awesome summer storm with my little cousins in the cabin loft

* Saw three black bears in Yellowstone (including one who hopped up on his hind legs and scratched his back against a tree - awesome!!!)

* Caught a fish - and watched in disbelief as my uncle and grandma released aforementioned fish back into the lake. And then watched as they managed to catch a dozen-plus fish between them while I didn't get a single other bite all day. Lame, lame, lame - I so wanted to eat a fish I caught!

* Took in a fabulous production of Guys and Dolls at the Playmill Theatre - my favorite tradition for 20 years now!!! 

* Ate way too many of my grandma's homemade chocolate-covered peanut butter balls. Soooo worth it, though!

* Slept in five beds in nine days. (Alone, of course - not a hussy! That could soooo be taken the wrong way...)

* Loved the "biggest fireworks show west of the Mississippi" on the banks of the Snake River in Idaho Falls - it was amazing! And hearing my friend Elise sing the national anthem at the swanky party across the creek wasn't too shabby, either.

* Marveled at the bizarre hairstyles so prevalent in Idaho. Note to the men: mullets are not attractive. Get over it. Note to the women: lay off the hairspray, ladies! And teasing should be done to children, not your hair.

And that, my friends, pretty much encapsulates the last week and a half of my life. So delightful! More tales to come soon, I'm sure...

Unexpected

Last night I got yet another unexpected curveball thrown into my life. A good one - but a curveball nonetheless.

After FHE I checked my email, and my eyes welled up at the name of an email sender - a dear guy friend / former flame who had been a big part of my life from fall 2000 until June 2007, when he saved me from my ill-fated road trip (the one when my car died in the middle of the desert? Yeah, he and his girlfriend just happened to be moving to Utah the next day, so I rode up to Provo with them). I haven't heard a peep from him since he dropped me off that night - par for the course when guy friends are in serious relationships, but I've missed him nonetheless.

I had to laugh when he kicked off the short email with "Not sure if you remember me, but we used to be good friends." I was like, not remember you?!?!? Not possible! You don't become close friends with someone for that many years across that many adventures (in the course of our always-long-distance relationship he moved from Utah to Iowa to California to Nevada, and then back to Utah again, while I did my own shifting among Utah, California and Washington). And, being the sap that I am, I seriously shed a few tears of joy. I absolutely love him and am just beyond thrilled to hear from him again. I get like that with pretty much all of my dear friends, though. Losing touch with my friends is like losing a limb, seriously.

Anyways, it just makes me bemusedly shake my head. My life has taken so many unexpected twists and turns in the last several years, but in the last year in particular. People drop out of my life or drop back into my life in ways I've not anticipated - but somehow it seems to be a good thing.

It's humbling and yet liberating to realize that I can't control my life any more than I can control the weather. All I can do is to be happy in the sunshine and the rain, because they all bring beauty and joy in the long run. It's all about appreciating the dark colors and the bright threads in the tapestry that is life.

Utah Adventures

So... I never blogged up my Utah trip, did I? (Or my Arizona trip, for that matter - sheesh! What is wrong with me?!

Well, I just discovered the awesomeness of Picasa, so here's a little teaser from my Utah trip. I went on some pretty awesome trips in 2008, and I think the Utah trip is the only one I blogged (since I wasn't blogging yet when I went to San Fran). So, I may have to do a year's travel-in-review kind of recap soon... but not tonight. For now, enjoy!

Adventures in Yellowstone, Provo, and Beyond

So, when I left off blogging consistently, I was off to Utah and Idaho for a delightful little trip. What a blast it was!

Here are a few shots of some of my fav Utah spots:

The Provo Temple

 Rock Canyon Peak

Mount Timpanogos

The first leg of my trip put me in Provo, where I was blessed to stay at the Witt condo. And, lucky for me, Pam was in town! Pam is amazing. She's been like a second mom to me ever since her daughter, my close friend Sarah, passed away a year and a half ago. I love that whole family!!! They're just plain wonderful. Anyways, Pam was in town from Albuquerque, and I hadn't seen her since October, so it was a blast hanging around with the Witt fam for a few days.

And, of course, I got to spend some quality time with my own family. My wonderful grandma, Doris, had been in Provo, nursing her brother and sister in law. I saw her briefly in Provo and then reunited a few days later at her cabin in Island Park, Idaho.


I just have to gush for a moment here - my grandmother is such a truly incredible woman. She's set such a wonderful example for me and my family, setting a lot of firsts: first to graduate from college (she got a BS in nursing from the U of U in the early 1950s, when college wasn't exactly a must, and followed it with a successful nursing career), first woman in the fam to serve a mission (as far as I know, that is - she served in the Georgia Macon mission in the early 1990s, shortly after my grandpa's passing). She's a skilled golfer (who, I'm proud to say, once scored a hole in one at Aliso Creek!), a talented seamstress and quilter (who made ALL of my childhood dresses before switching to quilting - and she won the Fremont County Fair blue ribbon at that, to boot), a gifted cook and chocolatier... and one of the most giving, service-oriented women I've ever seen. She takes such good care of her siblings and her mother-in-law when their health requires, and she's always so willing to help with just about anything when there's a need. She's not your typical teddy-bear type of grandma - she's definitely more of the tough love variety - but her love is always there. I love her soooo much!!!

Anyhoo... so, Idaho. My timing worked out so perfectly - my good friend Stacy, from my college days, happened to be in Provo the same weekend, so instead of heading straight to her home in Idaho Falls, Stacers came with me (and provided the transportation) to my grandma's cabin, which is about 20 miles from Yellowstone National Park, for a few days.

Grandma's cabin is, hands down, my FAVORITE place in the world. It's more of a home and a refuge to me than anywhere else in the world. Every inch of that place is saturated with memories - and that's not an exaggeration! - from childhood rounds of "Life" or "ToeJam and Earl" with my cousins and brother in the loft, to a giddy phone call to my best friend after my first kiss, to a phone call a few years later with the first-kiss-giving fella as he told me about his first kiss with his now-wife.



Memories of childhood ice cream cones on the patio, of swimming in the mucky lake and peeling off the leeches (yeah, nasty, I know!), of lying on the cool grass and stargazing on a clear summer night while chatting on the phone with my then-squeeze. Walking into the cabin, inhaling its certain aroma - man, I felt like I was home, like I never wanted to leave!


But, alas, three days were all I had - and a snowy three days at that! That's right - snow. In June. Lame, huh?

Here's a shot of Stacy, working on our wonderful breakfast-for-dinner from our first night there:
Our first full day, Stace and I had a lazy morning and then headed into Yellowstone for about four hours, savoring the scenery despite the somewhat bleak weather. I had a field day playing around with my dad's camera, which he graciously loaned me for the trip (I had ordered the same one, but it didn't arrive 'til after I got home). Here's a smattering of my favorite shots:

Grandma arrived that night, and then Day Two of the trip, Stacy and I woke up to snow and rain! So much for the full Yellowstone day we'd planned. Instead we spent the majority of the day curled up in the basement, fire burning in the fireplace, while I devoured the Twilight series and she worked on homework (she's getting a master's from Idaho State). May I just say, those Twilight books are insanely addictive!!! I read the first three all the way through, plus all of Twilight and half of New Moon again during my 10-day trip. Granted, there was plenty of travel time for reading, but still - I couldn't put them down! I got Stace started in Twilight too.

Look at how choppy Henry's Lake got in the storm!


That night we braved the snow to grab dinner in West Yellowstone and see "Oklahoma!" at the Playmill Theatre, a darling little summerstock theater with a cast composed of mostly BYU and BYU-Idaho kids.

(And yes, I did chuck that at Stacy after she took the picture!)

The play was fabulous, as it always is. The Playmill is, again, one of my FAVORITE things in the WORLD!!! I mean, I've always been an arts-loving girl, but I think going to the Playmill as a child was my first exposure to live theater, and the Playmill Players were my heroes when I was little!

I still remember seeing "Brigadoon" there when I was 6 or so - the couple starring in the show, Roger and Heidi Merrill, eventually married (if they weren't already by then) and stayed involved in the Playmill through the years - now they run the theater and their college-aged daughter is in the shows! (And that means I'm old... but whatever). Now I'm older than the majority of the Playmill Players, but I still feel a glimmer of that hero-worship for them. (And yes, I did audition for the Playmill in college, which was a lifelong dream of mine. Sadly, I choked on my second song despite a brilliant intro number - but that was the summer I interned in Seattle, and I'm glad I didn't miss out on that life experience, so it all worked out...)

But I digress... Stacy went home early Wednesday morning, and I got to spend a day with my grandma, just the two of us, which was delightful. I stayed in my PJs until late afternoon as we played round after round of Scrabble. I finally showered and dressed just in time to go to dinner at Dolly and Andy's, my grandma's neighbors a few doors down, for dinner. I've known of Dolly forever, it seems, but this was the first time I remember spending much time with them. Joining us for dinner was Dirk, another longtime Island Park resident. Yep - me with four septugenarians/octogenarians. It was such a blast!!! Admittedly, I was worried I'd feel out of place, but I wasn't at all. I just listened to story after story, which was just plain awesome. I love spending time with people older than 30!!! It's great to be enriched by their wealth of life experience.

The next morning was my last in Idaho. Grandma was kind enough to drive me to the airport shuttle in Idaho Falls, which is about a two-hour drive from the cabin. I enjoyed the scenery the entire way - I'm such a city girl, so the rural beauty of the Idaho countryside is just amazing to me!




Grandma and I did a session in the Rexburg temple (which is lovely!)...


... and grabbed lunch, and then I was on a shuttle back to Salt Lake, where I rented a car and returned to the Witt condo in Provo. My second weekend there, I had it to myself and enjoyed the R&R. I actually spent a LOT of time during that second leg of the trip at Bill and Necia's place in Orem (Sarah's brother and sister-in-law who is pretty much the big sister I never had!).

Finally, the whole reason for the trip came on Friday night: a retirement dinner for Dr. Frank Fox and Dr. Clayne Pope, the founders of American Heritage, the oft-maligned BYU general ed course for which I TA'ed for three years. Dr. Fox is my academic idol!!! Not only did he found the class that was such an integral part of my college experience, but he also founded the American Studies Department and taught two of my all-time favorite classes (San Francisco and the American Imagination, and Pop Culture).

Organized by the current American Heritage course coordinator, the dinner in the brand-new Hinckley Alumni Building was for all American Heritage TAs and professors.

While wandering through the alumni building, I found a bunch of old BYU yearbooks - including one with my Aunt Janet's pic! Can you spot which one is her?



(Top row, in the middle - see a family resemblance?)

The dinner was soooo worth the trip!!! I'd worried that I wouldn't know anyone, but instead I gladly reunited with Jordan and Kiersten, a couple of fellow TAs from my AHtg days. We sat together, plus Kiersten's hubby (who she met when *gasp!* he was one of her students!) and a really nice husband, wife and daughter from Louisiana - he had been a TA during the course's first year ever. We had such fun conversation - I especially enjoyed catching up with Jordan after the dinner. I wish I'd gotten to know her better during college!

Here we are - Jordan's in the red, Kiersten's in the pink. Huh, we're kind of color coordinated, now that I think about it...

The official presentation was just powerful. I don't think there was a dry eye in the house as we watched some classic clips from Drs. Fox and Pope's lectures.


That class has had a profound effect on my life, from the subject matter influencing how I see the world to the TAs I met there becoming some of my dearest friends in college and beyond. It made me so proud to be among the elite group who call themselves American Heritage TAs! People may grumble and groan about American Heritage, but I can attest to the fact that it is truly divinely inspired.

My final full day in Utah was devoted to my La Crescenta girls - Rebecca, Tabitha and Haas, my BFFs since high school. Haas's birthday had been that week, so I thought it would be fun to surprise her - Rebecca and Tabitha helped me in the ruse by arranging for a girls' day out with Haas's hubby, Mike. The surprise totally worked!!! I hid behind as we got to the door and totally got the shocked reaction I was hoping for. :)

Haas has an annual pass to This is the Place Heritage Park, just up the hill from her Salt Lake apartment, so we headed up there first and enjoyed looking at the historical buildings from the pioneer days. Here are some of my favorite shots:

By the time we were done there, we were all starving - especially a very-pregnant Tabitha! - so we piled into Rebecca's Prius and winded our way up Emigration Canyon to Park City for lunch at El Chubasco, my fav Mexican restaurant up there. It was fun, going back there with them - we'd gone there on a group date 5 1/2 years earlier during the Sundance Film Festival (it was Tabitha's second date with her now-husband).

After lunch we hit the Park City outlets, where they shopped for kid clothes while I beefed up my professional wardrobe (which was a must, since I got rid of my PR clothes during Round 2 of the Register and therefore had nothing to wear to the job I'd start the next week!). Man oh man, do I ever looooove the Park City outlets! Unfortunately, we had to head home before I could really sink my teeth into the Ann Taylor outlet (although I'm sure it was better for my wallet, in the long run).

All in all, it was a delightful trip. Somehow I keep traveling back to Provo - I've been at least a half-dozen times since leaving - but when you've got such good friends and family there, who could stay away?