I couldn’t be happier that I chose to do this exercise right now because I am entering full-force into Phase 387 of Moving Across The Country, which includes All The Insanely Minute Details That Must Be Taken Care Of Before Moving Across The Country. Such fun. You should totally do it.
Here are some more answers:
New friend Shannon asked, “What will you miss most about Utah?”
Here are a few ideas off the top of my head: Family within driving distance; friends and neighbors; fry sauce; Hip & Humble; Eat-a-Burger apricot chicken sandwich; the landscape dotted with Targets and chapels; the temperature of Utah’s summer nights; the mountains; Silver Lake; boating with family; Snoasis snowcones; lunch with friends; swimming pool afternoons with Alison; shopping Dillard’s clearance sales with family; Cafe Trio; Tsunami; Whimsy; and driving around looking at Christmas lights.
I’m sure I’ll have a much more vivid/heart-wrenching list in about six months when I’m rocking in the fetal position and wondering what in the hell I’ve gone and done.
Shannon also asked, “What will you miss least about Utah?”
You know when you watch those movies about two people who haven’t always got along and then suddenly one of them is on their deathbed and the other one is suddenly at their side, grasping their hand and forgiving every former tresspass? Well, that’s sort of how I feel.
Forget everything I’ve said before, Utah. I love you for exactly who you are. Even though you have way too many Chili’s restaurants.
Darci McFarcey asked, “You refer to your teen years as traumatic. What do you contribute this to?”
They were. I contribute it to the fact that at age 14 I turned down a boy who was seriously mentally ill. He made it his life’s goal to make my life miserable, and he did an amazingly effective job for about four years. You can read the whole sad story here. But I’m warning you, you will be overwhelmed with the urge to hug me afterward. And Ryan too.
Darci also asked, “How have you overcome it?”
Well, there is probably significant data to support the idea that I haven’t entirely overcome it. (I bet that last sentence totally got my scientific-minded husband totally hot for me!) My most obvious scar is that I have major anxiety meeting new people and making friends. Good thing I’m not MOVING ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHERE I DON’T KNOW ANYBODY.
Don’t get me wrong, I have overcome it in a lot of ways. I no longer foster the urge to cause bodily harm to my bully. I’ve even sort of bought into the idea that kids can be terribly cruel without realizing the impact and that my bully was the way he was because he had some significant personal problems that led him to behave the way he did.
But I’m also hoping to get me some real bona fide therapy as soon as we qualify for an employee discount.
Darci’s last question: “How will you prepare your children?”
You know, I’m not sure I have a specific answer to this. God forbid they have to endure anything similar. (Imagine I said that last sentence with a thick Indian accent.) I hope I am instilling in them The Golden Rule, the idea that we should treat everybody the way we want to be treated. I’m also trying to create a strong communication bond, so that if or when there’s trouble, we can talk about it and work toward a solution together. I had my parent’s full support during that time and it was a great strength to me.
Jesse asked, “What about your new house are you most excited about?”
This is kind of funny because the memory of my new house is getting so foggy at this point. By the time I see it again, three months will have passed. But if I had to say one thing, it’s this—I’m excited about moving in and making those little changes that will transform it from somebody else’s house into ours. And by that, I mean keeping a thin layer of Baked Doritos on the kitchen floor.
Jesse also asked, “I know you’ve always been much more into West Coast rappers, will this change when you live on the East Coast?”
Tee hee hee.
Jesse finished up with, “Are you excited to live in a slightly different culture, and to go from being a part of the religious majority to a religious minority?”
To put it simply—yes. One of my favorite quotes in the world is from Mark Twain who said, “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.” I love that idea and think it is so important. I get incredibly uncomfortable with the Mormon Majority mentality of some Utahns. The idea that because we constitute the majority, we have the right to do things exactly as we please and the minority can deal with it or leave. That idea makes me very, very sad and I don’t believe in it even a little bit.
I hope that suddenly living in a religious minority will be the refreshing and interesting experience I expect it will be.
(And remember how I just said that I love Utah for exactly who she is? I still do. It’s just some of her houseguests that can make me frown and furrow my brow sometimes.)
That’s enough for now. If you still want to ask a question, leave a comment here and I’ll answer.
