Thinking about missing Phoenix

creosote
orange blossoms
warm rain
my parents
cousins
the Suns
sisters
hiking in the city
excellent shopping
Fox concept restaurants
summer resort deals
home
familiarity
competitive grocery stores
out-of-this-world thunderstorms
xeriscape
easily navigable streets
friends
geckos
Mesa temple
walking to the library
January
Sedona
boating trips
Tucson
the Phoenix Zoo
book club
swimming
flash floods
Gammage
casual, down-to-earth people
concert venues
downtown Scottsdale
Mexican food
Phoenix Art Museum
Diamondbacks
retractable roofs
cub scouts
missionary opportunities
Village Vista Elementary
my ob/gyn clinic
close proximity to Target
60 degree Christmases
my hairstylist
throwing showers with Jami
family dinners
Kierland Commons
anything anyone might need is here
strong people network that comes with living somewhere for 16 years
our house

Comments

Neil and Diana said…
Will Steve get private-jet perks? Because you could easily work out a monthly visit plan.
September 04, 2007 9:53 AM
Chelle said…
That final goodbye to parents and loved ones when you drive away is a killer. I'm not gonna lie. Simply because that particular chapter in your life is gone.

The good news is that you seem like the kind of person that will find all of these beautiful things (and more!) that you love in your new home state. I already have a long list of things that I love about being back here (for me the move to Utah was a return to family and my roots).

Best of luck with the good, the bad, the ugly of moving. There is inevitably a bit of all three in the mix.
September 04, 2007 10:45 AM
abby said…
I think I'm kind of casual and down-to-earth.
September 04, 2007 12:34 PM
everydayjami said…
Emily,

I blogged about you...

What a great list of things to miss.
September 04, 2007 1:28 PM
Courtney said…
We'll miss you at all of the family (sort-of) parties. Plus, you are kind of the Kevin Bacon of Arizona - somehow you are connected to everybody.
September 04, 2007 2:51 PM
Mandy said…
I have lived in Utah for 10 years and still miss Phoenix for many of the resaons on your list. And I cry when I leave AZ to come back to Utah. But I love it here too. And I am sure you will as well.
September 04, 2007 4:25 PM
kacy faulconer said…
Don't worry. There's xeriscape in Utah.
September 04, 2007 6:42 PM
debi said…
I agree with most of those. Eat at as many great restaurants as you can before you go (specifically mexican) because they just don't have them here. And buy lots of Diamondbacks/Suns stuff, because it's harder to find.

But... Utah does have lots of really fabulous qualities. You're moving at the perfect time. Fall is AMAZING! It's reason enough to live here.
September 04, 2007 6:49 PM
Anonymous said…
Hopefully you will soon be able to write a list (equal in length) about the things you love here. We can't wait to have you! When are you coming?
September 04, 2007 9:55 PM
Emily said…
Thinking about being excited about living in Utah:

Chelle
Abby
casual and down-to-earth people
Mandy
Kacy
xeriscape (!)
Debi
fall
Catherine

All fantastic! Cath, we'll be there in two weeks. Whoa. When can I see you?

Diana, BYU is all over the private jets. Do you have any idea how cool this school is? It beat UA in football on Saturday. That's how cool. Twice-monthly visits.

Jami, you're even cooler than BYU.

Courtney, that was a nice compliment. Thanks.
September 04, 2007 10:24 PM
Nancy said…
There is a lot to love, buy your heart will be in Utah when that is where your family is. I could make just as big a list of the things I don't like about AZ too. But you're right, it will always be home.
September 05, 2007 12:16 PM
Chelle said…
Xeriscape? hmmmmm. I had to google it to find out what the heck that is. See? My list continues to grow.
September 05, 2007 1:51 PM
Christen Noelle said…
Emily you will truly be missed! Thank heavens for blogs and family in Utah to keep in touch! We will definitely plan to visit on our yearly trips...you are amazing in so many ways...Jami's list hit the top ten!
September 06, 2007 11:53 AM
Sarah said…
Some of those things are in Utah too, but I hope you come back often for the things that aren't. We will really miss you.
September 07, 2007 2:34 PM
MarySue said…
Darling Emily-I HAD to come back home to AZ from my OR vacation and was dreading it. I'm trying to have a good attitude because the heat is so hard for me to handle. I think I've been doing fairly well but sooooo happy I came to visit you (blogwise)today. You've made me appreciate AZ much, much more. Attitude is such the power. Keep blogging and inspiring.
September 08, 2007 10:31 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Anyone else?

I just read this scripture quoted in a blog comment thread, alluding to. . .me. 2 Nephi 9:28 28 O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. The context: I had suggested that Ezra Taft Benson's political views as expressed in 1968 before he was the prophet were not the official political views of the church, and shouldn't be construed as such. It is actually not the first time this month that I've been told through scriptural references that I am a wicked person {my extrapolated take-away from the conversations}. I give up.
Read more

Another taboo topic: money

I don't have a lot of real visible or artistic talents, but one talent that has served me well is an ability to manage and organize money well. A few of my sisters-in-law have asked me how I do the family budget, so this is a straight up accounting of how I do the accounting. When we get a paycheck: 10% tithing right off the top Then, with the remainder (net minus tithing), I divy it up into percentages and put money into different "funds" -- that I keep track of in the back of my paycheck because I'm old school like that. Mortgage: I figure out the percentage it will take to cover my mortgage. Usually 29-30%. I think this percentage needs to stay under 35% of take-home after tithing. Baby steps: 20% goes to meeting financial goals a la Dave Ramsey's baby steps. This means that you focus on one thing at a time, leaving the rest so that your money is not so thinly spread and you can make visible progress. This presupposes that one has abandoned using credit, and i
Read more