5 inches, and 10 degrees...awesome

"5 inches, and 10 degrees Fahrenheit" was the text I sent out to my brother Ty this morning at 7:45. It was the snow report for Solitude Mountain Resort, Sunday Jan 9, 2011. Now a decision had to be made. Would we brave the cold and hope that 5 inches of fresh snow was enough to cover in the old tracks of the last few days? Although not ideal, we were motivated by the forecast. After enduring a week in the valley of "the 4th worst quality air in the country", we were ready (and hopeful) to see the sun and breath some fresh air. With my "semi retirement" coming to dramatic halt in a few short days, and the knowledge that Val and I will soon be breathing air (in Guangzhou City) that will make Salt Lake's soup look pretty good, I was ready to take a chance on Solitude.

The day was glorious. (take a look). Sure, it was a little cold, but the sun was shining, the air was clear and crisp, and the sky was a vibrant blue. At the top you could see ridge after ridge of fresh snow, with some slopes bearing the signature tracks of dawn patrol soldiers. Ty and I both felt pretty good and the snow was effortless. We did have a little trouble with some wind loading in Honeycomb Canyon, but once back on the east side the snow felt as light as smoke, void of any resistance. The cherry on the day; experiencing one of my simple pleasures in life --following my little brother down a steep pitch, watching him as he skillfully works his board against the slope. Back on the lift, I started reflecting on our day, then on our surroundings, and then on the notion of how truly blessed we are here in the Wasatch Mountains. It is a magical place, I never take for granted.

Then Marin popped into my head (as she does on average every hour, night and day lately). And I started thinking about how special it will be to share this with her. As has Helena, Marin will come to love this place called Utah, these amazing seasons that bring us snow, sun, fresh water and occasionally, clean air :). It was an awesome thought in an amazing day.

Then, I starting thinking about next Sunday, and an overwhelming feeling came over me. As amazing as today is, it won't hold a candle to this time next week. Next Sunday (Monday in China) will be our little Marin's Gotcha Day. On January 16th, Val and I will spend a sleepless night and an early morning in great anticipation. Sometime late morning or early afternoon of the 17th we will then board a shuttle and depart our island enclave crossing over a bridge. Passing bicycle after bicycle and green taxi after green taxi we will travel along the south bank of the Pearl River. After a short while, as we stare out the window at the multitude of people staring back at us, we will turn into a warren of concrete that is downtown Guangzhou. We will leave our coach and enter a tall, nondescript office building. We will take a seat in an open room about the size of Read and Caroll's living room. And then, in an instant, our thoughts, inklings, wonderings, notions, hopes and fears about our daughter will start to unfold. Will her hair be long or buzzed short? Will she be walking? Will she look tired? Will she have a winter cold? Will she be a tiny thing or a buddha baby? More important questions will also be answered over the next several days: Will she shut down? Will she cry all day and night? Will she eat for us? What will she eat? All this and more will be revealed --as we take her into our arms and finally begin to learn what it's really, really like to have a little Marin Irene in our lives. That, my friends, will be an amazing day.