The Beehive State

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Just back from a long weekend to visit my mom in Salt Lake City, forgoing my usual plan-it-around-the-storm-cycle nature to just chill and give of myself entirely, to do anything, or nothing, at my mom's will (mostly her will).

What I completely failed to realize is that I'd be hitting a place steeped in fall weather - changing leaves, snow-dusted peaks, chilly nights and cold, crisp dawns. While my friend Andrea was back east kicking around in the arguably unrivaled autumn of Vermont I'd forgotten all about what I'd find along the Wasatch front: cool morning runs along City Creek Canyon, blazing sunsets over the Oquirrhs, alpenglow-colored peaks and a million lights from the city sparkling across the valley each night.

City Creek Canyon w/Wasatch behind
Hiking with Mom

It was a spectacular girls weekend for a mother and a daughter as we enjoyed the changing colors of the landscape together and bonded over the usuals: bowling, shopping ("ooh, you have to get that"), food, hair care, home improvement, Scrabble ("mom, that's not a word"), watching movies (who remembers Jumpin' Jack Flash?), wine and football.


Like any good University of Utah fan (of which my mom counts herself) we tuned in to see Cal vs Utah at AT&T Park Saturday only to cringe as Utah got doused. It felt almost the same watching Drew Brees and the Saints destroy the Colts 62-7 the next day but neither of us could look away and since we weren't Indy fans we didn't feel the need. Jimmy Graham, you have two new HUGE fans in Pinney Nation. Whoever picked Jimmy up in their fantasy league, kudos.

I like that as diversified as we are now - my brothers living in SoCal, mom in Utah, me in NorCal, my sister and dad holding court in New York - we all still feel the east coast allure of Sunday football, a good sandwich (or gluten-free alternative) a beer and a comfortable place to watch a game. I like to think that my brother and his son were watching football in the pic below checking their fantasy team stats and enjoying a leisurely Sunday afternoon. I'll admit, it doesn't happen to me often with my hyper-active friends and activities but when I can get out for a long run in the morning and get home for some recovery time on the couch with a good game on TV...I'm pretty happy.

My nephew Austin with his Dad, Justin

But I digress.

As it often does, Salt Lake romanced me and enchanted me and left me lingering in my farewell. That and saying good-bye to my mom, of course. The trails of Utah are calling next year. Where will my running take me? Happy fall everyone.

Best seat in the house at Mom's. For football, sunsets, whatever.

Comments

Andrea said…
so glad you had such a great trip. i have to get to slc to see your mom.
10:00 AM
Streeter said…
I was at that game! GO BEARS!
8:23 PM
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