There's a new Airport in my Backyard

St George is replacing its smaller, geographically landlocked airport with a new, bigger airport that promises to improve air service to our community, and therefore attract new and better businesses. This week, every local dignitary, as well as some national dignitaries like Orrin Hatch, Bob Bennett, and Jim Matheson drove past my house to meet at the new site and did what politicians do. Gold shovels in hand, they pontificated and broke ground. Mayor McArthur put on a grand show, singing the local version of "Dixie" and fed the whole crowd BBQ to the tunes of an old fashioned brass band.

It is a bittersweet moment for us. We know this airport is needed, and of course I love all things that fly. Living next to an airport will be fun. The hard part is, they are gobbling up our playground. For several years, we could brag that nothing stood between us and the Grand Canyon--we could leave my house and ride trails all the way there. Now our path is blocked and getting on the highway is the only way around this new obstacle. In two years, we might not even be able to ride our mules around some of this spectacular country as it gets developed. Well...we were lucky while we were lucky.

It is a grand sight to look over the construction at dusk and see a string of lights blinking in earnest, a linear spectacle completely out of place and disconnected from any other visible signs of civilization. Kailee and I (...maybe the rest of the kids too, if they wake up in time) will watch the airport come to life, alongside the Owl, the Coyote, and the Rattlesnake, innocent spectators to a grand change. We will keep hopping the ledges and climbing the Chute until someone says we can't, enjoying the lucky until its gone.