Exploring New Horizons
Last week I spent a few days (on business) in the tiny Western U.S. town of Vernal, Utah.
OK; chances are, after reading that opening statement, you probably fit into one of several categories:
- You know exactly where Vernal, Utah is and have maybe even been there (A special hat tip to fellow Bubba: Terry Starbucker. I’m tellin’ ya; that guy’s been everywhere!)
- You don’t know where Vernal is, but might like to know.
- You don’t know where Vernal is… and don’t particularly care.
- You’re only reading this post because your dog ate your homework and this is the best you could come up with for a replacement assignment. (Good luck with that, by the way.)
- Other (Sorry, just had to throw this one in).
Oh, don’t worry; it really doesn’t matter which category you fall into. A couple of guys wearing genuine Italian pinstripe suits with big lapels, carrying violin cases, and that answer to the name “Guido” aren’t gonna be knockin’ on your door anytime soon. (Unless, of course, you owe ‘em money. But that’s another bucket of fish, if you get my meanin’.)
Nope; for me, the great thing about going to Vernal, Utah is pretty simple, actually: It’s a place I’ve never been. In case you’re wonderin’, it’s a very small town located near that big arrow on the map up there. Hey, I don’t know about you, but I love breakin’ new ground! So many opportunities for new vistas, new people to meet, and more than likely, great lessons to be learned!
I’ll tell ya; Vernal was no disappointment. Here’s just a couple of the interesting things I discovered (or rediscovered) while there.
A Town’s Identity Is Important – and Personal
Every place has its own, well, “thing”. You know what I mean, right? The “thing” it’s known for, far and wide. ‘Course, in the case of big places, it may be more than one thing, y’know? But for really small towns, there’s usually one that really stands out.
Something I didn’t know (and you may not have, either) is that Vernal, Utah is where some of the first dinosaur bones in America were discovered. Now don’t that put the fuzz on your peach!
Yup; there’s old dinosaur bones in the mountains and hills around here; a fact alluded to by this giant, pink (and apparently, lady) dinosaur located at the outskirts of town on Hiway 40.
In fact, dinosaurs seem to be the official mascot for everything in this town; I’m tellin’ ya, they’re all over the freakin’ place! For instance, we stayed at the Best Western Dinosaur Inn (where, if nothing else, at least the pool was open!) Even the hanging baskets were graced with their presence.
Dinosaurs also invited us to do everything imaginable, including join ‘em in the wading pool, see ‘em in the OK Corral, and buy, among other things, oil tools. Plus, on the other end of town from our friend Pinkie, there’s a rather motley-lookin’ T Rex; I’m told they decorate this fellah to suit the time of year. The decoration du jour: Graduation Day. (And apparently, someone’s birthday.)
The bottom line is, here’s a town perfectly comfortable with its identity, y’know? They take their dinosaurs seriously, and that’s a fact. Now this, my friends, is a town I woulda loved to grow up in. The kid I was then woulda had a field day with this!
Interesting Factoids Are Everywhere!
I’ll tell ya; in my extensive travels, I’ve visited quite a few small towns across the United States (and a few in other parts of the world, too, for that matter), and the truth is, every one of ‘em has its own flavor. That’s because there are remarkably individualistic souls all over this world, y’know?
Ah, but the really fun part is when they congregate together. I mean, you just never know what amazing little detail you’ll uncover; something that turns any given place into something truly unique.
For instance, one of the folks I spent two days with in our client meeting told us this one: Back when they were shooting Starship Troopers (the truly awful Hollywood version of a relatively decent Robert Heinlein sci-fi book), they shot many of the outdoor battle scenes (humans vs. the evil alien bugs) right near Vernal, out in the Utah wilderness.
In fact, most of the extras in scenes such as this one (all wearing futuristic body armor so you couldn’t tell who was who anyway) were high school seniors from all around the area. They got paid something like $25 per day – not exactly big money, but still. The guy who told me this was disappointed he was only a Junior at the time, since to be in the movie they had to be at least 18 years old.
And that’s only ONE fellow’s story (and he is, no doubt, sticking to it). Imagine the great things I’d have learned had I time to spend with more of the local folks!
When Was the Last Time You Broke New Ground?
Amazingly enough, not everyone enjoys breaking new ground, you know. The very idea of exploring distant horizons send a chill up their spine. I must admit; its an attitude I’ve never understood.
I once ran across a woman whose only dream in life was to never be farther than 5 miles from where she lived – ever. And she was serious! (If you like, check out “Here Be Dragons“. Ironic title, considering the nature of, y’know, this post. Get it? Dinosaurs? Dragons? Oh, never mind.)
Anyhoo -
So what was the last time you went someplace completely new (at least, new to you)? What’s the most unusual place you’ve ever visited? Did you learn anything from the experience? Care to share a few tidbits with the rest of us? Hey, the floor is open!
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Dinosaur photo, Pink is the new ‘black’, right? by Robert Hruzek
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20 responses so far
Middle Zone Musings is a comfortable place to stop, have a cup of coffee, swap a few stories and share practical ideas for the real world. I don't ask for much, just a bit of your brain every now and then. Have a seat, take a load off, and relax...
Hi Robert, Utah is a fun place – parts of it look like Mars or something, with all those eerie rock formations. The strangest place I’ve ever been is probably Lisbon, in that it was so different in terms of language, culture, architecture, and standard of living. The poverty in certain quarters was really shocking. But the people were wonderful and the whole experience definitely gave me a fuller appreciation for the diversity in our world.
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Different Audience Temperaments Require Different Presentation Styles
In the mid-sixties I and a roommate decided to move from Backbay to Boston’s Italian North End. The rent was cheaper, and the neighborhood seemed quaint, mixing European-style open markets with America’s foundational beginnings (We were one block away from Paul Revere’s house). I spent a wonderful year in the North End, but the beginning was less than auspicious. A group of Italian loiterers outside a neighborhood bar watched with hostility as we moved in…with the help of my roommate’s bearded boyfriend:Hippies! They promised to burn us out that evening, but maybe the presence of fellow Italians in the building discouraged them, and we awoke safe the next day. There were a number of similar experiences in the North End during that time, but there were also visits to the neighborhood bakery at 1 a.m. to grab loaves of Italian bread straight from the oven; leisurely stops for espresso; the availability of fresh, fresh produce, and great picture taking. I never became a part of the North End, but I had an interesting time living there and learned to adjust to a culture that, at the time, looked at me askance.
Terros last blog post..Here’s to Holes in Water
Robert, I was raised in small towns. One of the most interesting places I have visited was Chongqing, China, a city of 40,000,000,000 people. I’m ashamed to say I didn’t hear of this city until I was going there to work with leaders in education and business. Once there, I was in a whole new world to me and it was amazing to see the modern city and all that is available to the people. I think I could write a book about all the adventures.
Robyn McMasters last blog post..Making Changes
Robert,
next Friday I will depart for the Baltic states (Estonia, Lithuania and Litvia). They are all members of the European Community now, but have been under Soviet siege for a long time. It will be a week full of new experiences, sights and photos!
Ulla Hennigs last blog post..Up in the Sky
@Brad – Your description of Lisbon reminds me of Sao Paolo, Brazil – very much the same as you described.
The things I’ll remember most about Utah (at least the part we drove through) are the wide-open vistas so reminiscent of many old Westerns. In fact, John Wayne used to hang out near where we were. I kept expecting to look up at the ridgeline and see it lined with Indians, ready to swoop down on us!
@Terro – Yes, sometimes life in certain quarters is “richer” than others, if you get my meanin’. But yeesh, you’re braver than I am, Terro!
What, no midnight visits to Il Capo, or maybe a little “conversation” with a guy named Guido?
@Robyn – A small town of 40 billion? Wow, everything really is bigger in China!
That reminds me of my adventures in Taiwan, a culture so totally different from any I’d experienced before. Wonderful!
@Ulla – Hey, sounds like great fun, Ulla! I look forward to hearing your stories and seeing the photos.
Robert, I loved that pink dinosaur holding the sign plate! Well, l’m a natural born explorer. I can remember over hundreds or thousands of place names, even after so many years. Because of this characteristic, my friends gave me a nickname, “The Walking Map”! Lol
Great stuff, as always!!! Interesting seeing this town on Google Earth. Unfortunately, can’t figure out how to share the link for that
Matches Malones last blog post..Yet Another Watchmaker Update…
Wow – great pictures! I love small towns. I have never been to Utah but it’s definitely on my list of states to visit!
Sharon Verhals last blog post..Bathroom Cabinet Glass Door
I have lived in Michigan, all of my life, and have yet to discover many new things about it! This past Saturday, my hubby and I did a day trip. We ended up eating at a restaurant we never knew about and loved it! We drove around a popular lake town we had heard about but never been too and we attended mass at a church we always wanted to go to. Next month it will be some where different!
I am a wonderer and love filling the tank with gas, grabbing a map and a great companion and heading to unknown destinations. And with Michigan’s economy it is nice to keep our spending dollars at home.
Annies last blog post..Back Home
@Wilson – I wish I could remember map details like that, Wilson! I remember stuff about the places I visit far better than I can remember their names. Good thing Google Earth came along!
Robert Hruzeks last blog post..Exploring New Horizons
@Malone – Yeah, Google Earth is a nice way to retrace the steps we’ve been over the last few years.
Robert Hruzeks last blog post..Exploring New Horizons
@Annie – Hey, we loved Michigan! I had a job in Kalamazoo, but we spent every weekend touring everyplace we could. I’ll tell ya; they grow some wonderful stuff up there: blueberries, corn, peaches – it was delicious!
Robert Hruzeks last blog post..Exploring New Horizons
I have to say, since I grew up in a very small town, that the flavor is always different with each one. Some are very bland and other much more exciting than you would ever expect. I would have never known about this little place in Utah without this post. I guess it is true that you learn something new every single day. Well, my quota is filled until tomorrow!
@Benjamin – I think you said it right, Bubba: every place has its own flavor! Hey, thanks for droppin’ by!
I don’t get to travel all that often, so when I do want to explore, I find new places in the city. A few months ago, I visited the Japanese Friendship Garden in downtown Phoenix. It is a beautiful garden, very zen like. Something I would have never expected to find in that area of the city, but it was absolutely wonderful. Spending just an hour there was a stress reliever.
@Karen – It’s amazing what new horizons are right under our noses! I’ve found myself looking in every direction around my hometown for something new.
[...] Exploring New Horizons (June) – A business trip to a small town in Utah led to some very interesting insights that can apply to pretty much anywhere you happen to be – if you’ll just look. [...]