| OCR Text |
Show PAGE 23 THE ZEPHYR AUGUST 1993 the implications! Subject to Change If he can bring whales to a place where, to the knowledge of the general scientific community, they have been conspicuously absent for ... well ... ever, think what he could do for the Mexican Spotted Owl! From all accounts they're mostly concentrated in yes St. George. But how different could it be? Aside from Moab's lack (so far) of a large condo population, there's a good possibility that they could adjust. Yes, this letter just reinforces your belief that you left too soon. So many breakthroughs, all centered in Moab. "The fine folks making Gcronimo", for instance. Evidently they have discovered a way (unknown to previous film crews) of dragging all their lights, cameras, actors and extras out across the formerly fragile macrobiotic communities, potholes and various forms of desert life without leaving a trace. And what's that lump in your throat? It comes from the sudden realization of all the years you lost believing that your countiy was great because people cared about making it that way, and keeping it that way for future generations. Now this letter explains that no, that's not it at all. It's the spirit of Hollywood that makes America great! The best part is the happy news that all the vandalism you thought you saw was just a bad dream. No one defaced the Moab Panel, no one totally eradicated ancient ruins on the "shores" of Lake Fowcll. Because man is incapable of destroying that much "in such a short time as we've been here". You feel better for having read this enlightening letter. All is well. (Except poor Scott). You think about calling Channel 2. Surely this would be newsworthy. Then you begin to wonder. Might it be best to leave the weatherman in front of Moab, to leave the town in its present status just a distant subuih of St. Ccorgc? Because really think of the additional tourists crowding in to take pictures of the whales. More movie crews, definitely longer lines at City Market. You don't make the call. You just keep a whispered hope that Scott keeps yelling, "Save the whales". It would be a shame to see them disappear again. - - By Cherie Gilmore Living up here on The Front as an expatriate Moabite is a weird existence. Little things will take you back. Obvious things, like only narrowly escaping being run down by a mountain bike and its accompanying rider and this on a trail that hasn't even appeared in a guide book yet. More subtle things, like seeing a bench in front of a little store where people are actually sitting and talking. These things are grabbed and held because they are so few and far between. They're the only reference made, and that by chance. News of Moab is notably absent. Sure, occasionally one of the Salt Lake papers runs a piece on the "Wise-Uspeople, and references are made to "rural southern Utah". You feel a quickening of the pulse until you realize that this group has nothing to do with the Moab you know, or knew. You feel the strong certainty that no one in the Wise-Us- e bunch knows anything about that part of Moab either. The TV news is even worse, holding the unwavering belief that southern Utah is a term which refers exclusively to St. George. Even the weather guy stands directly in front of Moab on the map, which makes it sort of eerily disappear and sure enough, you realize that southern Utah is St.George. You remember that he stood in that same spot even when you lived in Moab, though, and this provides a sort of comforting continuity. You remember the long days of August, which you spent huddled in a remote comer of your basement, trying to escape the sun. Or huddled in a remote comer of the La Sals, trying even harder to escape the tourists. You realize that even now, in the very dead of summer, you miss Moab. You must have news of what's really going on down there. What this comes down to, previous sources considered, is the sad fact that you must now rely on the Feedback section of the Zephyr. At first it's pretty much as it always is: an angry letter, a lycra letter, a love letter or two. Then you spot it. A letter which, in a few short paragraphs, completely letters. Because in this one you learn that overshadows the previous, there are now whales in Moab. (Editor's note: Ms. Gilmore is referring to a letter in the July Zephyr by .. Winslow who envisioned Groove "running around yelling 'save the whalesl'") Not only that, but your very favorite environmentalistlawyerpsyehopath-tume- d under copyright?) is solely responsible for cartoon (is the term "loony-tune- " their comeback. (I refer, of course, to Scott Groene, he of "save the whales" fame). Actually, I guess "comeback" would technically not be the correct term. But think of - - e" well-thought-o- ut TOM TILL photography When Stiles needs cash For another cheap thrill, He knows he'll find dollars When he dips in the Till. -- OdC CUFFS FOR INFORMATION. WRITE OR DROP B-Y- THE SILVEJ? GPILL PESTAUPANT, THOMPSON SPPINGS. UTAH 84540 CHECK FOP OUP BPOCHUPE. AVAILABLE ALL OVEP MOAB OS |
