That was a very interesting read! I love your descriptions, especially

the blue and bright skies breathed in like thin mints after gargling with Scope wintery fresh.

I've been on ski lifts in the mountains and I know what you mean!

Your story left me wondering whether you liked or resented your Mormon upbringing, and whether you still adhere to all you were taught back then. You don't need to reply to that if you don't want to; I just thought it was good that you left the reader wondering a few things.

Your story also reminded me of a forgotten aspect of my own childhood: we lived about 20 miles upriver from a paper mill, and if the wind was just right we could smell it at our house. Driving through that town was a smelly business, as was shopping there!