Reasons I am happy to live in Utah.
1. I get to see my sister almost every day. I love being so close to her.
2. It’s almost impossible to be sad around my niece. I love her to pieces. Her squeals melt my cold, black heart. Especially her new goat sound that is suspiciously similar to a Wookiee cry.
3. Tonight my dad made spaghetti for dinner while I crafted up vanilla ice cream with chunks of homemade chocolate chip cookie dough (weird, my pants all seem to have shrunk), followed by Law & Order.
4. My mom fucking rules. She’s always full of interesting ideas…whether it’s a new bead, craft project or or burning a flag because it’s “the respectful thing to do.” I will never forget my thirty-second birthday.
5. I will not have a conversation with any of my nieces like the conversation my uncle and I had last year when he shared regretting not making more time for his father when he was alive.
6. I am driving distance from my friend Stephanie. We’ve been friends for twenty years and marvel at our ability to pick up where we left off after being out of touch for long amounts of time…but have decided to the ability to pick up where we left off doesn’t make it OK to lose touch anymore. I only wish we lived a teensy bit closer to each other. I’ve been really lonely for her since our Easter weekend extravaganza with our other BFF, Zanny (who I also miss, but is not falling for my suggestions she move to Utah).
7. My Grandma Honey and Grandpa. Ghoney made an incredible recovery from a very scary illness. I appreciate and love being with her.
8. I get to see former Utahn friends when they come to Zion!
9. I am making new friends that are fucking awesome. Some of them even wear bikinis when drunk: hubba hubba!
10. Getting my learn on.
11. Inadvertently stealing the love and affection of Jack Jack from my mom.
12. Horrible LDS billboards…whether creepy Mormon movies or modest clothing stores (choking back vomit), provide material for endless sarcastic banter.
Short list of downsides so this post doesn’t get overly fucking schmoopy.
1. Too many California friends to name.
2. Landlocked, RED STATE.
3. No Sephora! Which I did not realize until I was already living here. I grieve my loss of sparkly makeup heaven every Sunday morning when I receive my weekly email.
4. The Utah climate is turning me into a leper. Lucky for me my mother crochets leper bandages, so I’m all set.