Never Say Never

Cedar Canyon 2009 

When Richard and I were dating and newly married we loved to go to the theater. Musicals, plays, and the occasional concert were a favorite past time of ours. With our fondness for plays and the fact that we lived in Utah, it was no surprise we found ourselves headed to The Utah Shakespearean Festival located in Cedar City one summer. To make a long story short, we loved the festival, but for some reason we HATED Cedar City. I vowed that I could NEVER live there.

Fast forward a couple of years, Richard was asked by his supervisor to interview for a specific job. She felt he had the needed leadership skills and knew he would benefit from the promotion. The promotion and coveted job were located in….Cedar City.

No way! Remember, we hated that place.

Plus, we just had our first baby and I was a week away from starting my 2nd year of nursing school at Weber State. This was not a good time to be quitting school, packing up, and moving four hours away from any of our family.

But in all actuality, it was the best time to be doing all of those things.

No, wasn’t the right answer- and we knew it. We felt it. So off to Cedar City we went. And do you know what? We LOVED it. For 3 ½ years we proudly called it our home.

Then Richard phoned me one afternoon to tell me he had been talking to his boss again. There were some sites that were struggling that could really benefit from Richard’s experience and once again, it would be a worthwhile promotion. Our choices were Killeen, Texas or British Columbia, Canada.

The choice seemed easy. Texas. The alternative was not even a choice. Canada? I could NEVER live there.

And so the magic words were said. Our fate sealed. Kamloops, British Columbia, became our home for the next 3 years and 3 months… to the day. And do you know what? We LOVED it and still do. I ache to see those tall lodge pole pines, to be asked if I want my milk in a beg (bag), and not to have people smile or laugh when I say “eh”. But all to soon our time there was over, life was to move on- as much as we hated it- we knew it. Again, we felt it.

And so the magic incantation brought us here.

The answer is…yes. I said it. “I will NEVER live in Happy Valley.” And, “I definitely, would NEVER want to live in Provo.” You would think that I would’ve learned my lesson by now, but who knows… maybe the third time really is the charm. Three and a half years later, I’m thinking…I might be right.

Thanks to the help of my parents watching our kids, Richard and I were able to run away last Thursday and Friday to Cedar City. We visited old friends, ate at our favorite restaurants, took in a play, walked the campus where I finished nursing school, and after years of not being back to visit, we toured our once beloved town.

It was an incredible feeling. I was struck with how much you leave of yourself behind in a place that you love. It was like we never left as we took in the brilliant blue sky set against the red rock landscape. We drove familiar streets and relived our life there.

Emotion swelled in my chest and tears blurred my vision.

I was grateful there is someone who would not accept NEVER as my answer. Who has eternal eyesight to see beyond the here and now to view the entire plan for me; who knows beyond my mortal comprehension the lessons that needed learning and the growing that needed to take place so that wonderful experiences could happen.

And dare I say it…. Provo is one of them.

Me with one of my best friends, LaRae.

The best fast food place to eat at in Cedar, Hermies. I highly recommend the grilled turkey & onion rings washed down with a Vanilla Coke. 

On the beautiful SUU Campus.

At the play "The Complete Works of William Shakespear- Abridged".  It was hilarious.  If you can get the chance to go see it, you won't regret it.

Fall in Cedar is breathtaking.  Right Hand Canyon and Cedar Mountain certainly didn't disappoint with their fall colors on display.  

Last stop before heading home, Cedar Breaks.

The gift of music

I love music.
And over the last year iTunes and I have had a little love affair. I secretly think that he only likes me for my money, but that’s okay. I can live with that because from him I get it all… love, adventure, fun, excitement, reflection, and lots of heartbreak all in the form of music. My playlists are filled with everything from classical to classic rock, country to alternative, even church music to a little hard rock. Richard calls it “eclectic”. I say that I am “just well rounded”. My children not so lovingly call it “Mom music”.

"Mom music" means that from my kitchen counter you’ll often hear the classics like the Eagles, Journey, and REO Speedwagon, with a little Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin mixed in, streaming from my laptop. And of course, you can’t forget the Kennys; Rogers, Loggins, and G. They are there too, like many others, packed in to playlists. From some playlists you may find me dancing to “Crocodile Rock” or “Wang Chung”-ing it in the kitchen with Emma. With another, I try to sing along with Josh Groban in languages I don’t speak. It's okay...I can admit it, because I know you do it too. One leaves me wishing I could play the piano as well Jim Brickman and the "Piano Man". And yes, I even have some Miley, Jonas Brothers and HSM in there too. But I would definitely be remiss if I forgot my ever faithful Depeche Mode and the Cure. Seriously, what would we have danced to at stomps if we didn’t have “Somebody” and “Lovesong” to slowly turn in circles to? And that’s just a lot of my old stuff. I haven’t mentioned any of my new found favorites like Linkin Park, Vertical Horizon, Secondhand Serenade, Five for Fighting, and Mark Schultz to name just a few. There is some great listening to be had from "Mom Music".

The majority of these songs, artists, or genres remind me about specific times and events throughout my life. There they sit in their playlists just like old friends waiting for their turn to be called up and invited to sit at my kitchen island to reminisce of old times. But that was the problem. My “friends” were mainly tethered to my kitchen or various other parts of the house where electrical plugs and the internet could be located. At least that was true until now.

The wonderful guy I get to call my husband bought me these… a new iPod nano and arm band. He knew how badly I’ve wanted one for months now, especially to run with, so he saved the mileage money he accrues driving to the airport and other various meetings and purchased me a pretty little pink one for our anniversary.

So no longer are my friends restricted to the house. They traveled with me to Cedar City last week and to my parent’s home this weekend. They also went running with me this morning. I felt like a tricked out vehicle, between it and my running watch. And in my mind there’s no doubt, I was the coolest thing on the trail this morning, but only because I was surrounded by some of my “friends”.