I am blond. Most of the time I don't think I fit the blond stereotype. But sometimes I do.
See, when I was 13 I started noticing that whenever I ran, I couldn't breathe. It felt like someone put cheesecloth in my throat. And then a sumo wrestler sat on my rib cage. So did I tell my mother or go to the doctor? NOOOOO. Cuz that would be intelligent. Instead, I told all my gym teachers for the next three years that I had bad knees (which is actually true) and got permission to walk around the track while everyone else ran. And I dated only boys who didn't like to do athleticky types of things. And I learned where every single elevator was on BYU campus.
It wasn't until 11 years later, when I was pregnant with Elijah, that I had an epiphany: I have exercise-induced ASTHMA. You'd think that since my mom had it when she was young, and since I have three other siblings with the same thing, that I might have figured it out sooner. But NOOOOO. I'm not that intelligent. Actually, I'm just blond.
So last night Sam and I went on a DATE. (Yeah, weird. I know.) And we did something that we have wanted to do ever since we met: we hiked Ensign Peak. It's a super short hike - not quite half a mile each way. But it's uphill. About a third of the way up my lungs decided to quit. The rest of me was fine, but those blasted lungs have a mind of their own. So of course I whipped out my trusty inhaler ... oh wait, no. I'm blond. No, instead I completely forgot my inhaler. Sam, being the kind, sensitive husband that he is, asks, "So, what should I do if your lungs collapse?" And I, being the snappy, sarcastic wife that I am, respond, "Call 911 and carry me down the hill." Yeah, my marriage ROCKS.
No, but seriously, we made it to the top just fine. It's so short that the uphillness is really not that big of a deal. Once you're at the top. It feels like a big deal on the way up when your lungs are freaking collapsing.
Anyway, "WHY," you ask, "is Ensign Peak so cool?" Because before leaving Nauvoo, Brigham Young had a vision of the Prophet Joseph and was shown the peak and where to build the city. Just two days after they arrived in the valley, Brigham and eight others hiked the peak and Brigham told them that this "'was a proper place to raise an ensign to the nations." Plus, you can see FOUR temples from the top. Awesome. Literally. As in, it inspires awe.
You should go. Really. We brought drinks and snacks and picnicked at the top while the sun set. It was LOVELY. So, here are directions to it. Make sure you look up the time the sun will set and plan to start your hike about 30 minutes before so you have plenty of time. You'll love it.
14 comments:
Sounds very cool and looks very beautiful. I know it's completely lame, but I've never done that hike. Put it on the list for next vacation to Utah. :)
Yeah! Finally something on your list that I have actually done. Although I want to go again. It's a short, but super rewarding hike (The kind made just for me). :)
Again, there're two more things I seem to have in common with you. I have the fun of dealing with that type of asthma as well, and I seem to do that with my neck in lots of pictures too. I hate that.
I wish I could hike Ensign peak! That's my kind of hike. (Short!) I hiked it a couple of times on days off from Temple Square. I've only been back to Salt Lake once in the last 10 years, except for that time we were trapped in a blizzard at the airport...
Kelli - Dude, obviously we are cousins. It's kinda funny the things we have in common!
Alyn - How cool that you did the hike on pdays! Wow. Well, any time you want to come back and visit SLC, you are more than welcome to stay here. We have three empty bedrooms, and that's with my family of five living here!
oh, Cara - I meant to tell you, when you come you should do this with your kids. I bet all but Ami could hike it by themselves. It's the kind that's perfect for kids. Hard, but possible, and like Melanie said, super rewarding.
fun date. What a beautiful couple.
Thanks, Ruth. You are always full of nice things to say!
Why DO you do that with your neck? That's ok...in all of my pictures, one of my eyes squints more than the other. Oh bother. Um, athleticky, did you make that up! Awesome if you did...you and I are so alike there. Jason makes fun of me for making up words for things that the English language lacks words to describe. I tell him that it means I'm smart, I mean, Shakespeare made up words and he is considered brilliant, so by deductive logic or something like that, I make up words so I'm at least smart (probably not brilliant though).
And the asthma thing: I don't know why we are embarrassed or something about things like that so we don't tell anyone. I had serious vision impairing migraines in junior high...got one during a soccer practice. Couldn't see the ball and my head was pounding, but I still attempted to act like nothing was wrong...I was embarrassed (I was an idiot). I still wonder why I thought that way. Now I'm a baby and let everyone know about all my ailments. (Well, maybe not EVERYONE.) Anyway, I'm just taking a really long time to say I know what you mean. There, simple as that...now was that so hard?
I can't believe I've lived in Utah for 25 years of my life, and I've never hiked Ensign Peak. Add that to the list of "Fun Adventures that Janae and Sam do that we'd like to do someday!"
Wow! Those skyline pictures turned out great.
Thanks, Paul, for offering to babysit. Don't know if you read this blog very often, but you're a stud.
It sure is pretty. I am glad everything turned out okay. And nice that you got to go on a date!
wow. gorgeous. wish i could be there to hike it... maybe some day! janae--you may be blond, but you're a stud nonetheless. way to gut it out... and ps-- you're neck is your trademark. don't lose it! :)
ps my spelling and grammar is usually my selling point... usually.
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