A one, a two, and all together now: "Colorado Rocky Mountain high! I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky. They say he'd be a poor boy if he never saw an eagle fly!"
We made it, up and up and up until we arrived at Denver, a full mile above sea level, and then up some more to Estes Park, about 7500 feet high. This tiny town of 10,000 people is nestled in the crook of the Rockies, which tower over us at every turn. It was an absolutely stunning drive to get here - I do believe my mouth hung open for about 10 miles! The land is so rugged, covered with pine trees and other hardy creatures (like sunflowers, believe it or not) that seem to hang on for dear life.
On Saturday and Sunday, we made our acquaintance with Denver. We drove on 1-70 the entire way across Kansas, which surpisingly was not totally flat - the eastern portion is quite hilly. Also, Colorado is not totally mountainous, another fact strange to my East coast mind. The plains of eastern Colorado allow Denver and the Rockies to make a dramatic entrance. After mile upon mile of nothing but fields punctuated by farmhouses, suddenly in front of us, we catch glimpses of peaks lost in the clouds. Planes descend rythymically, heading for Denver's airport off to our right. And slightly to the left, at this point seeming as tall as the Rockies, are the skyscrapers of downtown Denver. For miles they grow and grow until we arrived right in the midst of them at our motel.
As we approached Denver, it dawned on me that I wouldn't be leaving (i.e. going home) until Christmas. This was it, the final stopping point, at least for now. Being in Denver and walking her streets made the move here much more real and tangible, in a way that both thrilled and terrified me.
We attended mass at the Cathedral on Sunday, a breath-taking gothic church blocks away from both the Capitol and my new home on Pearl street. After church, we went to a thrilling Denver Rockies game (they bested the LA Dodgers 9-6) in Coors field. So many landmarks here boast of the mile elevation, and even at the stadium, there was a row of purple chairs high up in the nosebleed section - you guessed it, a mile above sea level.
Forgive the brevity and relative rambling-ness to this post! We'll be in Rocky Mountain National Park for 2 days, and then it's back to Denver! I ask for your prayers for our safety and joy in each other's company. Vaya con Dios.
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2 comments:
hi bethany! i am praying for you and the year ahead! what an exciting place of faith to be where God has led you! i'm sure He has lots in store. for me, i'm home from China and have decided to accept a job offer from a parish near St. Louis, MO! keep me in prayer as well!
Bethany,
I just looked at your blog for the first time. I usually don't like reading blogs, but I figured I'd give yours a chance (being a friend and all). I must say, I thoroughly enjoy your writing style. It is better than many writing majors I know. Your descriptions are very palpable, and refreshing. I wish I could be standing in the foothills of the rockies looking up at their grand hoary heads. I hope this encouragement helps you persevere with your blog, because I know it can be nerve wracking sometimes to print your words in such a public fashion.
On a slight tangent, your writing style is similar to Jon Barker (just thought you might find that interesting).
Blessings and Peace.
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