Happy Birthday, St. George

By Connie Zdunich St. George!

Not being a person who gets excited each year about making resolutions, I always look for things to celebrate in the upcoming year. It has come to my attention that our beautiful city turned 160 years old on the 17th of January. That is amazing! I am so grateful for the incredible, strong souls who ventured to this area before air conditioning. It is beyond my comprehension to imagine how hard life must have been for them. Last year, we lost our air conditioning right when the temperature was hovering between 110 and 117 degrees. For many days, we had a small glance of what summers might have been like for those early pioneers, and it was not something I would like to experience again.

Before moving to this area, we would visit St. George for the home show, the marathon, the small town feel of the fourth of July parade, and of course, the weather. Then in 1999, we took the plunge and made the move to “our paradise.” The hardest thing we had to do was decide where we wanted to live; everywhere we looked the views were breathtaking. Over the years, we have come to love this city as we immersed ourselves in the community and surrounding areas. It goes without saying that the people in this area are the salt of the earth.

We recently had the opportunity to hire a couple of new employees. One employee has lived in northern Utah for many years. He is full of excitement to be here with his family, away from heavy traffic, long commutes, and winter inversion. Each morning, he is out running before work and comes in with a smile on his face, invigorated by the incredible vistas he has enjoyed while on his jog. The other employee moved to St. George from the Los Angeles area and is also thrilled to be here. He is amazed at the cleanliness of the city, the friendliness of the residents, and the lack of crime. He loves seeing the clear blue sky and the night stars and knowing that his children can safely play outside.

Reflecting on what our community looked like in 1999 and how it has grown, I sometimes wish for the “good old days.” But I am so appreciative of the many improvements that have been made—the miles and miles of paved bike and jogging paths, the quality of the events that come to town for our enjoyment, the safe environment, the entertainment provided for our children and grandchildren (the splash pad and Children’s Museum, to name a few), and the varieties of eateries—while still retaining our small-town vibe.

So the next time I leave the office at 5:00 p.m. and Bluff Street is bumper to bumper, I will enjoy the azure sky and crystal-clear air while counting the blessings that are mine by living in such a magnificent place!

Happy birthday, St. George!

About the Author

Connie enjoys working with local Hospice Groups and Veterans Associations. The military is very close to her heart, with her father being a Pearl Harbor Survivor, and her sweetheart retired Navy. Helping support local hospice groups is very rewarding for Connie, and she feels being a part of the Spilsbury team is an awesome opportunity. She is the mother of seven daughters and nineteen grandchildren, who are “the joy of her heart”. She loves being of assistance to those in our community who do so much for each of us.