Arizona fires came for her memories. But she'll never let them go.

Growing up in Arizona, it's hard to appreciate the state.

Maybe all kids feel this way about where they grew up — because when you’re a kid, you’re not thinking about the details of your hometown. You’re thinking about what’s for dinner or whether your parents can drive you to practice, rehearsal or a friend’s house.

Whether it's maturing or moving away and missing it, sometime in adulthood, it becomes easier to value everything Arizona has to offer.

I grew up catching lizards in my backyard and jumping into the pool when it got too hot, but also driving up to Flagstaff to go skiing almost every weekend in the winter. I consider watching a haboob engulf a whole city to be nothing short of magic and somehow having the perfect conditions to be the only place the majestic saguaro can grow feels like a miracle.

Republic editor Shelby Slade can relate. Moving away from Arizona after college, like she thought she always wanted, made her more homesick than she could imagine. And a specific trip to the Grand Canyon Lodge cemented the love she now carries for her home state.

The fires burning at the Grand Canyon are now the fifth-largest blaze at a national park in recent history. It's destroyed the historic lodge and has spanned nearly 17,000 acres of forest. The destruction has Shelby reminiscing and reflecting on what being from Arizona means to her.

This week on Valley 101, a podcast about metro Phoenix and beyond, Republic editor Shelby Slade shares a personal essay about how Arizona's namesake made her fall in love with her state.

Listen to the episode

Listen to Valley 101 on your favorite podcast app or stream the full episode below.

Submit your questions to us about metro Phoenix and Arizona for a chance to be chosen for the podcast.

Note: Valley 101 is intended to be heard, but this is a reading of Shelby's story that you can find here.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: The Grand Canyon fires feel personal to her