I left Utah ten years ago today—on Cinco de Mayo.
This followed three intense days of packing. I only took what could fit in my car; everything else I sold or gave away. The car was packed so full that I couldn't squeeze in a single extra item. I even had to mail a box of pans I'd bought on Black Friday to my new home in New Whiteland, Indiana. (It's still hard to believe my car was so full that there wasn't room for a box of pans.)
I had planned to leave around 10:30 in the morning because I had a hotel reservation in Nebraska. But I wasn't ready until about 3:30 in the afternoon, and I didn't arrive at my hotel until around 1:00 AM. I remember liking Ogallala, Nebraska—a small town in the middle of nowhere—with a kind of quiet charm.
I had lived in Salt Lake City for over 22 years. I liked Utah; it had a profound impact on my life and career. I worked three jobs, moving from the video game industry to a major military contractor. I also spent 22 years running a chess club I started, organized tournaments, and served on the board of directors of the Utah Chess Association.
As I left Salt Lake City, I stopped on I-80 just before entering Parleys Canyon. I stepped out of the car for about 30 seconds—right there on the highway—just to take one last look at the place I had called home for more than two decades. Even though I loved Salt Lake City, I told myself that my future lay ahead. Then I got back in the car, and as I drove into the mountains, Salt Lake City disappeared from view.
This followed three intense days of packing. I only took what could fit in my car; everything else I sold or gave away. The car was packed so full that I couldn't squeeze in a single extra item. I even had to mail a box of pans I'd bought on Black Friday to my new home in New Whiteland, Indiana. (It's still hard to believe my car was so full that there wasn't room for a box of pans.)
I had planned to leave around 10:30 in the morning because I had a hotel reservation in Nebraska. But I wasn't ready until about 3:30 in the afternoon, and I didn't arrive at my hotel until around 1:00 AM. I remember liking Ogallala, Nebraska—a small town in the middle of nowhere—with a kind of quiet charm.
I had lived in Salt Lake City for over 22 years. I liked Utah; it had a profound impact on my life and career. I worked three jobs, moving from the video game industry to a major military contractor. I also spent 22 years running a chess club I started, organized tournaments, and served on the board of directors of the Utah Chess Association.
As I left Salt Lake City, I stopped on I-80 just before entering Parleys Canyon. I stepped out of the car for about 30 seconds—right there on the highway—just to take one last look at the place I had called home for more than two decades. Even though I loved Salt Lake City, I told myself that my future lay ahead. Then I got back in the car, and as I drove into the mountains, Salt Lake City disappeared from view.
No comments:
Post a Comment