We went back to Utah right at the end of a very long Seattle winter. For the first time since we moved here in 2003 I was starting to feel oppressed by the darkness and clouds. Seeing our friends and family in Utah reminded me that its not such a horrible place. When the air is clear you can see for miles. Drivers are annoying, but there are not as many of them. When the sun is out and not too bright its kinda nice.

I spent a cathartic afternoon on BYU campus with my college buddy who was also in town. He said he was a little scared of me because of how cagey I was getting. Its true: being on BYU campus made me feel like I was being locked up (having my coffee helped). But I said a sort of "goodbye" to it. Where I am in life now, BYU hardly matters at all.

But then coming back to Seattle was so very nice. No weird problems getting a drink, coffee shops on every corner, drivers are a bit odd and can be maddeningly nice but they don't have a chip on their shoulder, and religion just isn't an issue. Hindu, Buddhist, Catholic, Mormon, Jewish, Baptist, Methodist, Evangelical, you name it we've got it and NO ONE CARES! Go to church on Friday/Saturday/Sunday or not at all. "oh, you were Mormon once? huh, I knew some Mormons once, they were nice" End of conversation. Go to Utah and its pushed in your face, Mormon or not, you gotta pick.

So here's a toast to Seattle--I can put up with the dreary days and long winter nights if it means I get good food, great drinks, and can spend my time and energy on my triathlon instead of arguing about religion.