I’ve enjoyed a lot of good conversations over a lot of good meals this year, but when I think of Adam I think of a different kind of conversation. I’m not sure whether to call it a “curb conversation” or a “driveway conversation,” or even a “doorstep conversation,” but often my favorite interactions with Adam happen when we spot each other across the street and just start shooting the bull. Adam and I have been neighbors for almost five years now, but like many of the friends I’ve profiled over the last few months, we’ve been in close proximity for much longer. While I was growing up and attending Viewmont High School, Adam was in nearby West Bountiful, and attending Bountiful High School (If you’re familiar with South Davis County, you’ll recognize the irony). And where I wound up teaching English composition, Adam has built a career as a seminary teacher at West High, and now Skyline. Teaching is one of the topics that brings our conversations together, whether on my sidewalk, after a church basketball game, or at lunch, like the recent stop we made at Salt Lake’s Thai Archer, pictured here (one notable conversation took place at about 4am, as we watched the Gun Range Fire last month). But inevitably the discussion weaves through a series of topics, from pop culture to childhood hijinks, and always winds up in a meaningful and thoughtful place. Now that it’s getting colder, those talks will likely move indoors, but even once the snow comes, I’m sure I’ll see still Adam outside, plowing half the driveways in the neighborhood. For a long time I lived in neighborhoods where I barely knew the people next door to me. I’m glad that isn’t the case now.
There’s a sad subtext to this week’s profile, since two of the things I most closely associate with my friend Mike are summer things, and looking at this picture is a reminder that summer is officially over. Plus Mike went and trimmed back that choice beard of his shortly after our lunch outing, which...just...hurts. Seriously, though, getting to know Mike and his family over the last couple of years has been great. For the last two summers we’ve played together on the ward softball team, and as I’ve settled into my unofficial role as team catcher (I figure I can do the least damage there), I’ve become intimately acquainted with Mike’s unorthodox pitching technique, expertly designed to keep opposing batters off-balance. Usually, by the end of these outings, we’re standing in the parking lot at the back of his work truck, next to a cooler loaded with ice cold drinks. Here is where Mike’s second “summer thing” becomes clear. Simply put, if you have any desire to embark into the magical world of smoked or grilled meats, Mike is your guy. He’s always the go-to guy in the ward for food-related activities, and often our post-game conversations involve a description of some elaborate and ambitious concoction he’s recently cooked. It was appropriate, then, that our lunch outing was to @garageonbeck in Salt Lake, a truly worthy venue. But even if those tailgate conversations start with food, but they always wind up at a much more meaningful place. Mike is an immensely thoughtful guy, with a wealth of interesting experiences. I just hope he grows that beard back out again, to match his sage wisdom.
If you ask Travis about his photography skills, he’ll probably insist that he doesn’t have any, and this is inaccurate. Travis just also happens to be very humble (in spite of his brilliant recent run of hypnotic Instagram slo-motion hair videos). The reality is that Travis is directly responsible for some of my most unique photography efforts over the last decade. Thanks to his creative instinct, I’ve photographed a giant slip and slide, a confetti-drenched baby announcement, and a very public wedding engagement involving a billboard on I-15. Travis may not always actually take the pictures, but he knows what will make a good shot. He also happens to be a great friend. We met somewhere in the middle of that YSA social scene chaos of parties, outings, and endless activities. There was some early tension as Travis persisted in the unfortunate idea that The Blue Iguana was superior to Salt Lake’s cherished North Temple culinary icon, The Red Iguana, but good friends learn to agree to disagree. And as fun as the yearly excursions to Cornbelly’s and the State Fair were (I’m pretty sure he also introduced me to JCW Burger Boys along the way, so I do have to give him credit there), the friendship really took root in the off the record conversations, at the end of parties or to and from photo shoots in the west desert. Thanks to that proposal off I-15 years ago, Travis left the YSA scene behind for life as a husband and father (kid #3 is on the way!). He’s still an avid traveler, and it was great to pick his brain a little bit this past summer as we caught up at @twigsbistro in Station Park. He was kind enough to split two entrees with me so I could satisfy my fish and chips and pizza fix at the same meal. I may even be grateful enough to meet up at Blue Iguana for our next outing.
