I have an amazing view from my office, and it’s not just my opinion.  Most of my colleagues agree.  That I scored the best view is odd since as the junior-most partner when we moved into our firm’s current location five years ago, I landed my office by default.  True, I have to deal with a lot of ambient noise and office chatter right outside my door (likely why the sweet view was passed over by others).  For someone who cherishes and needs quiet to function best the noise can be distracting but is nothing that a closed-door can’t fix.  And I have that view.

Starting from the top with Rice-Eccles Stadium on the University of Utah campus, my eastern view features all the highlights of the Wasatch range that Salt Lake County has to offer:  Mount Olympus (the Utah version – I’m fairly certain no Greek gods are in residence), Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, down to the Point of the Mountain dividing Salt Lake and Utah Counties where my view shifts south.  On a clear day, my southern view extends nearly 150 miles to include the mountains of the Manti-La Sal National Forest.  I’ve tried taking pictures and video for you, but they don’t do the natural beauty justice.  Also, taking photos without window glare is beyond my skill set.

I try to take some time to appreciate the view when I am enjoying those first glorious sips from my morning coffee.  On those days when the sun is peaking over the Wasatch range, and the city seems to glow, one cannot help but be truly awestruck by God’s creation.  When the late afternoon lull hits and it’s time for a cup of tea (or a trip to my assistant’s candy dish), I shift my gaze south.  On the clear days, I marvel at the distance I can see; on the hazy days, I worry about all the toxins we are breathing; on rainy days, the clouds rolling in are mesmerizing.

I am taking some extra time to stare out the window these days because the leaves here in the valley are starting to hit their peak of fall color.  My husband noted today that the big tree across the street seemingly turned bright yellow overnight.  The golden leaves last a day or two at best and then drop to the ground as quickly as they appeared.  This fleeting fall beauty reminded me of one of the greatest philosophers of my generation:  Ferris Bueller.  I will leave you with one of Ferris’s most memorable lines and perhaps his greatest lesson:

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”  Ferris Beuller.