After a day of snowy, cold weather, it was a treat to wake up to Colorado sunshine!

I had a lovely visit with my brother yesterday. We watched a little baseball. I fed him his favorite food. Then I cut his hair and trimmed his beard. I am so pleased he is doing better in the new setting. He has more support, more often. Even though he still has trouble understanding/hearing his roommate, I found them getting along pleasantly. I spent some time working on my brother’s phone. He told me he answers it every time it rings, but I can assure you…after missing no less than twenty-seven phone calls from me in a two day period…he wasn’t hearing it ring. 

I set his phone to a ringtone he was sure to hear then I turned the volume up to the highest setting. I also added a vibration to it to attract even more attention. Then I sat down with him and called him. It turned out, he was hitting the “hang up” button every time he answered the phone! I showed him how to answer it properly and placed a dozen calls to his phone to make sure he had it down pat. Now, I need to get him a little pouch to carry his phone around his neck. He won’t carry it in his pocket because he’s afraid he’ll lose it. And when it’s in his fanny pack, he can’t hear it and even if he did, it takes too long for him to get the phone out. So, I think we have corrected the phone problem.

After he was settled down for the night, I went and picked up a sandwich from Chili’s for my supper. Unfortunately, as is all too often…they didn’t get the order right and I never think to look till it’s too late to say anything. But it was food and it was good and I am grateful for the convenience. 

As I waited for my order to be ready for the curbside pickup, I heard crows. LOTS of crows! I followed the sound and there must have been two dozen crows in the field by the shopping center and they were putting up quite the fuss. I soon discovered why. There was a solitary magpie fighting off this “murder of crows” from what I assume was her nest. She was relentless, bobbing and diving and chasing off these marauders. It made me think about how I’ve been feeling in this town which was once my home…fighting off the interlopers.

Hubby #2 and I moved here in 1986 after he finished his internship and residency. It was a sleepy little cow town with two stop lights. When they put in the third, we thought it was getting WAY too busy! Then they finished building the interstate through the nearby canyon and that was the end of the sleep little town. From then on, it grew exponentially and now? Oh, lands. Now it’s like stepping into a hive of angry bees. 

There are people everywhere. It’s what we used to refer to as the beginning of tourist season, but I’ve a feeling it’s like this year round anymore. There’s a line to get into every restaurant in town on a Friday and Saturday night. A hotel room that used to cost $75 a night now runs $250+! I was happy to find a peaceful campsite for only $40 a night for a site with electric only, but it’s beside a rushing mountain stream and it’s really been very quiet. 

Mr. FixIt sent pictures of my bonus granddaughter’s graduation from high school yesterday. It was at 10:00 in the morning and the temperature was already a balmy 88 when they got there. My poor husband looks like he just got out of a shower with his clothes on in the pictures! But, they had a grand time and the graduate was beautiful and happy, so we have achieved what we were shooting for…attendance at both graduations. Just one at each, that’s all.

If there is a window with good roads through the mountains today, I might head back to Denver. If not, I’ll wait another day. It’s really been restorative camping in the mountains and it’s done my brother and me a world of good to hug each other and say our “I love you’s” in person. I don’t get to see him but once a year so we have to make these visits count. 

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“But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

1 Timothy 5:8 ESV

#Family, #Colorado, #Camping