Connections

Cyber Connection--Again!

Ten years of knowing, first time together in person

The internet is amazing in that one can connect deeply with people without ever seeing them in person.  I've met Elaine--in blue--before but neither she nor I had met Connie--in white.  While Connie's husband was in town on business, the three of us met at the Garden of the Gods to take in its beauty and get to know each other in person.  My hubby went along to do some hiking and to serve as official photographer--on three different cameras.

An example of the magnificent rock formations--with climbers.

Though it was a hot day, and a Wednesday, there were a lot of people walking the paths, hiking, climbing where permitted and photographing beautiful wild flowers. We walked for an hour and a half, catching up on family and friends between photos and exclamations of awe. The Gardens are filled with "charismatic" formations that cry out for names.  Some of the more obvious shapes already have them:  balancing rock, the kissing camels, the three graces.  Others challenge us to come up with our own images and names.  I hadn't been here in over 15 years and now I wonder what took me so long to get back to this spectacular place.

 

The formation to the left had no name that we could find but if it doesn't have one it seems like it should--it seems to be a gathering of characters for a particular purpose. 

After we met Bob again we drove to, Manitou Springs, a delightful little mountain town with a lot of colorful history surrounding its famous soda water springs.  In fact we had lunch in Adam's Mountain Cafe located in an historical building that was once a Spa. The history and some transformation photos of the remodel from spa to restaurant can be found here.   What a fantastic building--and the food was great as well.  The next time I have occasion to be in Colorado Springs, this place is on my list to revisit.

A photo Adam's Cafe interior, copied from their site.

 

Whew!

Bob and I on the Boulder Mall  with Stephan from Newstadt Germany

Twenty-five years ago we hosted Stephan's mother for five weeks through the Denver International Program.  On October 4, he arrived from Laramie Wyoming where he had been a summer research assistant in Chemistry.  For five days we tried to acquaint him with the Denver his mother had lived in for four months. (Each participant had 3 host families.)  He was delightful and we enjoyed him very much.

On October 6 Everaldo, a 48-year-old businessman from Brazil, arrived in Denver.  He will stay with us three months while he takes an intensive English course every weekday from 9 to 3.  On Sunday Oct 8 our sons, their wives and children, Everaldo's cousin Melene, Stephan, Bob and I went to lunch at the Dushanbe Teahouse in Boulder and then walked the pedestrian mall to get the flavor of Boulder.

At the Dushanbe Tea House.

October 10 Bob took Stephan to the airport while I readied the guest room for my 91-year-old Dad, his wife of almost a year and their two dogs when they arrived just before noon on her first visit and his first in about 10 years to our home.  She is an artist and musician who is interested in everything.  We toured museums, shopped the art supply stores, and talked for hours. My dad has great taste in women. Earlier this year they took the Inland Passage cruise in Alaska and Oct 30 will take a cruise through the Panama Canal.  I read somewhere that "more people rust out than wear out."  These two don't stay still long enough to get rusty.

Scotty and Vivion with Ginger and Pepe:

It was a lot of activity but I loved every moment of it.  We are so fortunate to have some really special people in our lives.