Yesterday was mine and Greg's day. We have a wonderful friend named Donna who got us passes to Brighton. I just have to confess my love for Brighton. I have very deep roots to my soul embeded there. It has been almost two years since I have been there and that is against my religion. Brighton is in many ways my home. I spent 7 wonderful years there, day in and day out. I met many of my closest friends there and I lost two of my best friends there. Not to mention I learned to ski there as a little girl and years latter that is where I learned to snowboard and realized I have a very deep passion for it.
The drive up the canyon was full of mixed emotions for me. I was so happy to be there. Where every curve is so familiar and I have a memory that goes with each one. Yet I was so sad, one of those curves is where my dear friend Doug passed away. But what kept me from totally loosing it is that I have a wonderful memory of Doug driving me up the canyon in his jeep on one of those mornings that it was snowing super hard. We could barely see the road, the wind shield of his old CJ5 was fogged, snow covered the hood, and we were listening to The Doors "Riders on the Storm" That is one of my most treasured memories and I think of it every time I drive Big Cottonwood Canyon.
I got to spend a little time in the Ticket Office with my old friend and boss Joanne. She is still just as cute as ever and not much has changed in the old T.O. We had lunch in Molly's with our good friends Donna and Bill. Molly's is a very nostalgic place for me, I have spent many good times with many great friends there.
We rode Great Western most of the day. Although we very much enjoyed sleeping in, we almost wished we hadn't because the snow was sooooo much better than we had expected. All of our favorite spots were knee deep, I even got a few face shots. The Brighton trees were just as good as ever. It is so nice to have a place to go where my heart will always feel happy and free. I always have a warm, comfortable feeling when I am there. Although most of the faces have changed, and there have been some unfortunate, but understandable upgrades around the mountain. The same vibe is still there and the spirits of my friends, and all of the memories that lie in every nook and cranny will always be there.
...and that is why I love Brighton!!!
4 comments:
woah. you are posting madly! all great. the brighton one especially. great expression of your emotions for beloved friends and one of your favorite spots on this earth. i love it. and i love you. merry christmas.
This one brought tears to my eyes. I love how well you can express your feelings. I can feel the emotions in your words.
wow. nostalgia ignited. yes, you were so able to capture the memories with your words. i could feel it, see it, smell it, breathe it with this post. without a doubt, my years at brighton, and the people i knew through brighton have shaped who i largely am today. oh man. can you say "coming of age?"
and good old doug. i still have a hard time comprehending that he has left this world. his life and energy seemed so indistinguishable. he was more of a big brother figure to me than anyone else in this life. i can't count the number of times that he helped me and kim come through something alive.
r.i.p. doug. and long live brighton.
Hi Les! It looks like you made it home safely!
You nailed it on the head with the "big brother" comment. Doug was just like a big brother. Always so protective of us girls and I am sure he is still looking after us. I didn't even go in the Rental Shop. I have a real hard time with that whole level of the Brighton Center. Doug's spirit still lingers there I am sure!
The other thing that always trips me out is right outside the T.O. That is the last place I ever saw Chris Quinn alive and I see him vividly saying "Hey Suz" every time I am there.
I'm not trying to bring up sad things, these are happy things and I love to remember them as often as possible!
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