Nostalgia

I've always considered myself to favor "Spring."  But I'm noticing more each year that I miss the Fall.  It might have something to do with the HOT weather we're still experiencing.  I miss Fall in Utah!  (To be quite honest I miss experiencing the true season's that Utah offers).  It's about this time of year that a crisp chill in the air is inviting.  The idea of wearing a comfy sweater without having to cover it up with a big coat is exciting.  I miss looking up at the mountains and seeing a sea of red, orange, and yellow.  I'm also missing the excitement of sitting in Cougar stadium and enjoying a good football game.  

This feeling has made me reflect on my childhood.  I've had a nonstop flow of memories today that have been difficult to stop.  It's made me think of the fun things I did as a child.  Allow me to share some of those memories.

* I love the Utah mountains.  They are so majestic.  They offer a place of recreation, but also a place of refuge and peace.  I love Y mountain, especially when it gets lit at night.  I miss driving through the canyons.  I miss Bridal Veil Falls.  I miss walking around Sundance.  I would love to drive to Park City for some pizza and shopping.  I miss the mountains.

* Throughout my childhood we spent every BYU home game eating hotdogs, climbing up the railings to our seats, hanging out with the Christensen cousins, and looking through binoculars across the field to try and find my parents and my aunt and uncle in the crowds.  During away games, all the televisions in the house were on.  You couldn't go anywhere in the house without hearing the call of the game.  (In fact you couldn't even walk outside without hearing it.  Any neighbor out in their yard had a radio on).  I loved living in a college town!  It was the heart of the town.  There is so much offered between sporting events, the arts, and even swimming followed by an ice cream cone from the Creamery.  I miss my college town most during football season.

* I loved going to my grandma's house (sadly I googled "street view" of it the other day).  I loved walking in her house and smelling freshly baked rolls.  You could walk in her house any day, any time and be guaranteed to find fresh baked cookies in the cookie jar (whether from her oven or Provo Bakery...it was the same).  I always admired whatever my grandma was wearing even down to the jewelry.  She was so stylish.  I loved eating cherries from the tree and then rolling down the hill.  Tetherball never got old.  Neither did climbing one of the many great trees in her front yard.  I loved walking to Carson's market to pick out a roll of Necco's.  It was always a great day when they had the all chocolate roll.  I miss my grandma.

* I loved my neighborhood where I grew up.  From 10 in the morning until dark, the streets were filled with friends.  Our house sat at the end of a dead end street.  It was perfect for riding bikes and an impromptu game of 500.  Besides our family of five girls and one boy, the rest of the neighborhood was full of boys.  I got really good at the boy games: around the world, any-I-over, ghostman baseball, and let's not forget the classic games of kick-the can, steal-the-flag, and hide-and-seek (especially fun at night).  Usually toward the end of the day we would all end up sitting on the fence between our house and the Madsen's just talking.  When some of us reached driving age, we would meet at our mailbox at night and go get an ice cream together at Baskin Robbins.  It was a great place to grow up.  I miss that my kids won't experience that kind of liberty and freedom in the neighborhoods of today.

* I loved living in a place where everyone you meet knows my dad.  Some may not like that.  I loved it!  I was always (and continue to be) proud of my dad.  It thrilled me when people would ask if Pete was my dad.  It meant that they immediately thought different of me.  They knew I came from a great family.  And I knew that too.  I miss being asked if I'm Pete Peterson's daughter.

* I love walking into my childhood home.  It's been home for over 30 years.  I've taken up residence in all four bedrooms at some point.  It has always been a place that as soon as you walk in the front door, there's a different feeling: safe, comfortable, inviting.  It is a place where friends are always welcomed, but family is always enjoyed.  We have always been a family that enjoys talking with one another.  My mom has made it "home".  It's a home that is constant in gospel principles.  It's a home where prayer is always offered.  It's a home where respect and compassion have always been present.  There are days I miss going home.

I love living where we do.  I am very happy and content to raise my children here.  It is a wonderful place to live.  But at times, there's a tiny bit of me that makes me sad that my children won't know Utah like I do.  And I do love Utah!  I miss Utah!