Reflections on the Holiday, Salt Lake and Fate

Reflections on the Holiday, Salt Lake and Fate
Nov 24, 2007
Posted by: Morris Almond


Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE/Getty Images

Today is November 23, the day after Thanksgiving. It was a good holiday—we had a few days off from practice and games, and my parents and brother flew in from our hometown of Atlanta, GA for the break. We went to a near-by whole foods store and got a turkey with all the trimmings, and we all enjoyed a happy Salt Lake City Thanksgiving together.

This was my brother Josh’s, who’s 20, first visit to Salt Lake, so he got to see how I’m living out here. My dad took him on a hike and everything, up in some Utah hills nearby. Being from Atlanta, he doesn’t exactly go on hikes everyday, and he definitely wasn’t used to the altitude and thin air. I think it was good for him, though. I’ve been on a hike or two myself since I’ve been living here—those hills and mountains are something else. In certain spots, you can see the entire Salt Lake valley. The air is crisp, and it all makes you feel at one with Mother Earth. Powerful stuff.

Earlier today, my dad brought up an interesting point:

“Hey Mo, do you know where you were at on this same day one year ago?”

I knew I was still in school at this time last year, but I told him that I couldn’t remember where I was exactly.

“On November 23 of last year, you were here, in Salt Lake City.”

I didn’t even realize it--I was here this time last year, in Salt Lake City. We came here to play the University of Utah Utes. I can remember that particular trip for a couple of reasons.

That was my first time coming to Utah. Rice is located in Houston, Texas, and several guys on the team had never even seen snow in person before. So we all got a kick out of seeing the snow-capped mountains and the people ice-skating at a park across the street from our hotel.

I remember the actual game pretty well, too. We lost a heartbreaker to the Runnin’ Utes. I finished with 42 in that one, off 13-16 from the field (Yeah, those were the days). And that was the end of our Utah trip.

At that time, it didn’t really cross my mind that I would be starting my career here after school. Who knew? I’m glad to be back though. What a difference a year makes.