So long, Satrun.

You were the first car I ever bought, right when I was fresh home from my mission. You were just a year and a half old, with about 14,000 miles on you. Your saleswoman's name was Merelyn, and you were our first atypical colored car.

You took me to school each day, first at Weber State and later at BYU. You took me to work at Teltrust, then Macey's, then Kennecott, and then to my current job.

You took us on our first road trip as husband and wife. You also took us to Lake Powell, to St. George, to Park City, to Disneyland, to Steamboat Springs and Denver, and many times you took us camping.

You were our first major purchase paid in full, and we were so happy when we paid off your loan.

Although you helped us get a couple of speeding tickets, you were never involved in an accident in all of your 198,000 miles.

In your last year with us, you nobly sacrificed your tires so that your silver cousin could continue to drive. Now, as you begin your new life with the Kidney Foundation, we take heart knowing that you will help someone continue to live by providing dialysis or a transplant.

You ran a good race and fought the good fight.

So long, dear Satrun. We will remember you always.

1997-2009

Small town life.

Yep. I live in a small town. I saw this going on last fall.

Yes, it is the 21st century, and no, we're not Amish.

I love living in a small town. I like being able to go outside at night and see stars. I like that I drive past farms and horse pastures as I drive home from work. I love that there are a couple of ponds a stone's throw from my house, and I love that they freeze in the winter so I can ice skate on them. I like that my neighborhood is quiet (even if I have a couple of moronic neighbors). I like that deer sometimes wander through my neighborhood. I don't like the skunks that so often get hit on the street, or the occasional smell from the mink farms when the wind is right, but I can live with that.

Even though my town is small, I just found out that it's about double the population of South Dakota's capital, and more than triple that of Vermont's. So... um... wow. I can only imagine the number of horse-drawn carriages in those towns.