I was just a little tike when Mount St Helens blew up in 1980.  I don't really remember it, but was told there was small amounts of ash here in eastern Idaho.  In 2001 I moved to western Washington.  In 2008 the volcano started smoking, but they decided it was safe enough to let the public close enough to see it.  So what else was I to do but drive down and see it.
I drove down and went to the visitor area that had a view, the closest one was to close they decided.
I saw the smoke billowing out, the top of the new formed dome, the trees leveled in '80, I even followed a Ranger giving a tour.  It was on the tour when we stopped for him to talk about the trees mowed down by the force that I was looking around.  With my back to the belching volcano I saw this view.  I took a photo of it and here it is for sale.
It was interesting enough sight for the half hour drive through a forest.  I don't think I will go back now that I have seen it.  I moved back to Idaho 3 months later, and miss the area.  I may have been born in Idaho, but my soul is from Washington.