ONE YEAR AGO in December I was in Salt Lake. I took these pictures:

This year I'm about a thousand miles north of Salt Lake. Its warmer and there isn't much snow. I strangely miss my slummy old apartment. Kitchen fires, slanted floor and all. I was sad this summer to see that the Mary tree had been defaced. I don't believe in shamelessly robbing the simple minded of the harmless symbols from which they take comfort. And Salt Lake has been robbed of a valuable camp artifact. Various pieces in Gilgal gardens were also defaced. Very sad. At least the man with the brick pants is still in good condition. I miss having odd religious relics to puzzle over. And I miss having those spooky downtown cult buildings to shudder at.