{"id":9425,"date":"2011-11-15T21:03:56","date_gmt":"2011-11-16T02:03:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.prosebeforehos.com\/?p=9425"},"modified":"2012-12-26T20:07:58","modified_gmt":"2012-12-27T01:07:58","slug":"the-mormon-diaries-chapter-1-the-neighbors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.prosebeforehos.com\/cultural-correspondent\/11\/15\/the-mormon-diaries-chapter-1-the-neighbors\/","title":{"rendered":"The Mormon Diaries: Chapter 1 – The Neighbors"},"content":{"rendered":"

They thought I had a speech impediment. Or, at the very least, a mild learning disability. <\/p>\n

First night in the new condo. Why not invite the neighbors over?<\/em>, I figured. Down a couple shots, pregame through an It\u2019s Always Sunny In Philadelphia<\/a> episode, and see where the night took us.<\/em><\/p>\n

In New York City, this would be fool-proof. It would invariably led to a club, mysterious $91 bar tab, 4:11 AM slice of baked ziti pizza, Coconut Water-infused Sunday recovery, and an all-around \u201csolid\u201d weekend.<\/p>\n

But this was not New York City. This was Utah. The<\/em> bar (there\u2019s only one) closed at midnight. Baked ziti was simply a greasy lunch side at Sizzler\u2019s. And the neighbors were Mormon. <\/p>\n

They didn\u2019t drink. They prayed. They didn\u2019t watch R-rated TV or go to clubs. They attended prayer ward, went bowling, and were in bed by 10:30. <\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t know this at the time, of course.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *<\/strong><\/center><\/p>\n

Provo, Utah on a Friday night smacks of Pleasantville 1960s America. It is best seen in black and white. Best listened to with the Leave It To Beaver<\/em> or Andy Griffith<\/em> theme song.<\/p>\n