The first time I went to Utah I was 18 years old. I was on Spring break, my first semester of college. Amelia, who would become my very best friend, and I hitched a ride with my R.A. to Moab and being small in body and spirit the landscape totally enveloped me. We slept on the ground by the river and climbed on ledges that made my heart race. I think I have a couple photos sitting in a box from that trip and besides those couple images, I had my memories to exaggerate and expand on over the last 11 years.

This year for my birthday, to celebrate the last year in my twenties, I asked Dustin to take me back to Moab so I could see it again with perspective. It was just as large, just as enveloping. Growing up in a city, I think I have always been a little scared of nature. So, it's no surprise that it took me 18 years to feel really awed by a landscape. I think I will always love this place, because it was the first time I felt really spiritually connected to nature, and not logically, but really.