One Year Ago Today

Last October, Marcus and Emrick and I went for a Sunday drive. That’s something that Marcus and I used to do pretty frequently before we had kids. When I first moved here, I enjoyed those drives because I wanted to explore the neighborhoods around here and generally get acquainted with the area. Plus, there was (is) always something new (shopping, housing) being built along the Wasatch Front, so we never wondered where to go on those drives. And I liked driving through the old neighborhoods, too. Once Emrick came along, though, we didn’t go for those drives as often; but once he got a little older, and would reliably nap during those excursions, we once again made the occasional meandering drive through Utah or Salt Lake County.

Now I think it’s been a year since our last Sunday drive (unless I’m forgetting something). Why so long? Well winter came, and then in the new year I found out I was pregnant, and the morning (all-day) sickness commenced shortly after, and once that was over I just had to pee all the time and I was exhausted and uncomfortable and well, who wants to sit in a car all afternoon driving aimlessly about?

Anyway, last night I remembered some photos I took from that drive last October. They were on my old phone, which was buried in a drawer, and as it turned out, they were taken exactly one year ago today (thanks, time-and-date-stamped pics!). I had originally intended  — last year — to share these right away, but I think I got a new phone soon after these were taken and my old phone was put away and forgotten. Not that this really explains why these pictures were never posted because I take pictures all the time without ever following through with posting them!

Anyway, our Sunday drive last October 21st started out as a pointless matter of just heading north on State Street. We kept getting farther and farther north into Salt Lake County. We drove through Sandy and Murray, past the Fashion Place Mall, and on into downtown Salt Lake City. I was driving and wasn’t sure where I wanted to go, when at some point I remembered that State Street dead-ends at the State Capitol building. Yes, the Capitol! That’s a perfect Sunday drive destination. I didn’t tell Marcus about my plans; I just drove until State Street stopped, turned right and parked on East Capitol Blvd, next to the circular lawn of the Capitol Building. I opened my door to get out, but Marcus didn’t move. “Are you coming?” I asked. “Where?” Marcus responded. “To the Capitol!”

We weren’t sure if the building would be open, but I suspected it would. It’s a public building after all and this is ‘Murrica! Marcus got himself and Pookie out of the van, a little reluctantly, and walked with me toward the building, which was TOTALLY OPEN.

From the steps of the Capitol

Pookie walked up all of these steps, with only his Daddy’s hand to hold onto.

Is this thing open? Yes. Yes, it is.

Once inside, I was struck by the littleness of Pookie against the hugeness of the building.

Despite how empty the place looks, there were other people around, including a wedding party. I remembered that I’d heard of people having their wedding photos taken on those steps you see in the background of the last few pics. I guess they are pretty grand looking.

Pookie tries to enter the Governor’s office, which was NOT open.

Brigham Young

Next we went to the basement…

…which didn’t have much that was worth photographing, though I think this web of lights is kind of cool.

After exploring all we were permitted to explore, we headed out onto the grounds of the Capitol.

I should have taken more pictures of the grounds because there are some lovely areas. Even these pictures make me want to make this drive again. Hmmm. We should visit the Capitol every October and take more pictures of Emrick there and see how much bigger he looks in that main hall each year. Maybe next Sunday…