Taking Ogden for Granted

A few weeks ago, I recieved a phone call. It was from a local (South Ogden) business. The business is a relatively new athletic club. Just for answering the phone, I was given an opportunity to tour their facility and receive a free two week membership at their facility. The tour was conducted by a woman who had recently come to Utah from Michigan. During the tour, she mentioned that one of the aerobic classes is held outdoors when weather permits. She pitched, "So you can have a beautiful view of the mountains." Almost apologetically, she added, "Sorry, but coming from Michigan, I really think that these mountains are spectacular- you probably are so used to seeing them, it doesn't really make a difference."
That has got me thinking since then about my attitude toward where we live. Countless times (both on blogs and off) I hear people comment on the scenic views to be had in Ogden. It is truly something that I occasionally take for granted. At the same time, it is something that I feel passionately about. This area of the Wasatch Front is without a doubt one of the most scenic. We have two beautiful canyons, two fabulous mountain peaks of prominence (Mt. Ogden and Ben Lomond) and mountains that are rocky in some spots and tree-lined in others.
Maybe its because of that passion that we can get so caught up in these "healthy" debates.
I just hope that in our zeal to see this area be the best it can be, that we don't miss the forest for the trees- or in this case, the valley for the mountains.