Mike,
Let me first get it off my chest that you're the reason I joined Cascadeclimbers.com. You're my inspiration. You make life worth living. Before life was pretty scary, and some how I pulled through to make it to cc.com, and then there was you. You made it easy. Amazing Trip Reports. Funny Hijinks. You were there for me. Even though you were in Portland, I knew you were in the Pacific Northwest. I knew I could relate to you because of that. I knew you were "one of us". I knew I could count on you. I thought of you as brother. One of my family. At Christmas when I opened my gifts I thought of you and wondered what you were doing and if your presents were cool. I thought of you when I was stuck in a obligation when on a nice weekend...what routes were you on? Did you go for that big alpine route? Would you live? There were many sleepless nights. I remember when we first met. The very second, actually. It was at Second Ascent. You were working there. When I shook your hand, I don't know if you noticed, but I was trembling. It was a great moment, one for the ages...if only a photographer could have captured the moment. Our paths crossed maybe once more, maybe twice. You became a Seattlite, like me. You moved into the Lonely City. The City of No Friends. The City of Malcontent. I felt your loneliness, but I could not reach out. I was stuck in the same rut, but because of obligation I cannot leave like you. I can't just run away like a little baby. I can't just uproot and go start over. Take my ball and run away. Instead, I'll crack this nut. If I can make here, I'll make it anywhere! But I support your decision to leave. I love Utah. The Mormons are weird, I suggest you read Under The Banner Of Heaven before you leave. It will help your torment your new neighbors appropriately. I suggest you start a new religion down there. I'll be coming down to visit during that outdoor gear expo they have down there. I'll fully expect that you'll have a place for me to stay. And we'll miss you. But really, it isn't that far away...and anyway Kat is right....you'll be back.