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I Am Charli And I Am Special

Let me introduce myself, I am Charli, and I am special. The best place to start is always at the beginning, so here we go. Firstly, my mother, Lindsey, took great care of me while I was growing inside her. She watched what she ate and exercised regularly. I particularly enjoyed it when she took me for walks alongside the river.

One day, a week before I was due to arrive, she took me to the doctor. I heard them talking about bringing me into the world on my due date, August 12th. Well, that just wasn’t going to work for me; after all, I am Charli, and I am special.

Special Charli

So the next day, on August 6th, I decided to wake my mommy and tell her it was time for me to come into the world. I began the process and made it known to her, in no uncertain terms, that this was happening. My mommy and daddy drove to the hospital and were admitted to the maternity ward.

When my grandparents in Florida and Alabama heard I was on my way, they rushed to their cars and started driving. People were coming from all over, just to see me. I told you I am Charli and I and special.

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Charli Elizabeth Hammond Born August 6, 2022

I couldn’t wait to meet my mommy and daddy, so I didn’t wait for the rest to arrive. At 10:28 a.m., I was born and, for the first time, saw bright lights and many people rushing around. They were all there to make sure I was taken care of.

First Touch

They gave me to my mother, and I felt her warm skin and gentle touch for the first time. My daddy, Will, cut my umbilical cord and held me. I knew at that moment that I was loved greatly. Later, I met my Alabama grandparents, Aunt Coral, and my big sister, Aubree. She thought I was the cutest thing, and I love her so. She wants to hold me all the time. I began getting hungry and had my first meal from mommy.

That evening, my grandparents and Aunt Nikki from Florida arrived. They drove 12 hours just to see me. It did make me feel special. The room was filled with love and joy. I am looking forward to my life with my new family.

I Love My Family

My daddy is a hard worker and provides for us. One day he will open his restaurant, and I will help him. My mommy is super-duper talented, and a wonderful writer and actor. She is funny and keeps me laughing. I will be just like her one day.

Now, I know you might think that I am conceited, and cocky, saying, “I am Charli, and I am special” so many times, but it is true. I am special, and so are you. We are all the same and are created by the same energy. We might look different on the outside, but our souls are the same.

Create Your Own Life

Every one of us creates our reality. If we think will have a great life, then we will. You can be anything you want. We can overcome all obstacles because we have God within us. Choose the life you want to live and go live it. We can change it at any time; we just have to change our thinking.

The most important concept to remember is that we are made from love, and we must spread that love around. I want to live in a world that is full of love, laughter, joy, and happiness. It is a world that I choose to live in. I will see the good in everything and everyone. The life that I will lead will be one of lifting everyone up and bringing everyone together. It is the only way to change the world. I will do my part, how about you?

Always remember, you are you, and you are special.

InspireChief9 Comments
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Mr. Peaches and Unconditional Love

One of the most important skills we can learn in our time on this beautiful spinning rock is unconditional love. I believe it is our purpose while we are here. Some of the best examples of unconditional love come from animals. If you have ever had a pet, you know what I mean. Here is a story about Mr. Peaches and unconditional love.

Unconditional Love From Mr. Peaches

I learned of a wonderful story from a friend, Linda who I was introduced to by my wife. Linda learned lessons about unconditional love from a squirrel. Yes, a wild animal that lives in trees and is part of the rodent family. I always find it amazing the different ways God uses to teach us these important lessons.

Around August 2019, Linda was outside her home when she noticed a fur ball on her deck. It was a baby squirrel, about a month old and it wasn’t moving. She brought the squirrel inside and began giving it water from an eyedropper. The baby slowly began to gain strength and progressed to solid food. It particularly loved peaches, so naturally, Linda started calling him, Mr. Peaches.

The Florida Room

Mr. Peaches was raised by Linda and stayed in the Florida Room of her house. For those who have never heard of a Florida Room, it is essentially a closed-in porch on the back of the house with a roof. Mr. Peaches slept in a wicker basket and played by running around his new home.

Since squirrels like to live up high in trees, Linda’s father built Mr. Peaches a beautiful pagoda. He loved his new home. Mr. Peaches would show his appreciation and love by crawling in Linda’s lap and snuggling up to her.

@thelifeofmrpeaches

Love! ♥️🐿🍑 #mrpeaches #thelifeofmrpeaches #lifeispeachy #love #lifeisgooddance #strangepets #squirrels #goodvibes #cutepets #laborday #floridalife

♬ Nature Boy (Remastered) – Nat King Cole
TikTok Video

The Return

One morning, about eight months later, Linda came to greet Mr. Peaches but he was gone. She found a hole in the screen where he had chewed through. It saddened her to think he was gone for good. But not Mr. Peaches … No. Two days later he came scurrying around her pool and climbed on her pants leg. He was back!

They turned the hole into an entry/exit for Mr. Peaches to come and go as he pleased. Soon, Linda noticed that Mr. Peaches had built a dome-shaped structure in the pagoda out of the inside of palm trees. He had made a nest in his new home. Many days he would lie under his dome with just his head peeking out.

He Was Free

Mr. Peaches would come and go whenever the desire hit him. Some days she would find him at home and on others, he was out; growing and exploring. Like our children, animals have an instinct that it is time to branch out independently. In May 2021, Mr. Peaches left and didn’t return.

For almost two years, Mr. Peaches showed Linda and everyone who met him the true meaning of unconditional love. He was always friendly and unafraid and would approach everyone who came to Linda’s house.

Mr. Peaches Is A Children’s Book

Linda was so taken by the love shown by Mr. Peaches, that she wrote a children’s book titled, The Life of Mr. Peaches. He even had his own social media pages on Instagram and TikTok. You can find the book by clicking on the link above in the book title. Mr. Peaches is an example of how animals can be used to teach unconditional love. Maybe one day we humans will evolve and learn to love each other with the same unconditional love Mr. Peaches has.

Cites

https://unsplash.com/@halofourteen

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How Do You Handle Adverse Situations

How do you handle adverse situations? Let’s face it, every day is not sunshine and rainbows. I don’t care how connected or powerful you are; difficult times happen. How do you react to these trying times? Your reaction is important to your personal development.

Are you the type of person that complains about the current state in which you find yourself? I hope not. Complaining is nonacceptance of what is going on in your life. Complaining has never provided a solution to any situation. In fact, when you complain, you make yourself into a victim.

Handling Adverse Situations

Instead of complaining, accept the situation as it is, and look for anything positive that can come out of it. If possible, find ways to change the situation. I have recently read some blog posts from someone who faced a difficult circumstance and accepted it.

My friend Hamish, from hardlinesheavytimes.wordpress.com, found himself dealing with adversity a few days ago. Hamish is a wonderful and talented young man from New Zealand who traveled to the States to compete in a World Ultimate Frisbee Competition.

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https://unsplash.com/@johnkofi28

COVID-19

I am sure he put in many hours of training and sacrifice with his teammates to come and compete. Shortly after arriving and only three days before the tournament, he tested positive for COVID-19 and had to be quarantined. It had to be devastating to watch his teammates travel on without him. It is one of the worst things that can happen to an athlete.

Despite his disappointment, he has handled the situation admirably. He wrote in his blog about accepting this adversity. In his words, “It sucks. But is not insurmountable.” In addition, he changed his goal from playing in the tournament to being there for his teammates.

He has chosen to create memories rather than focus on his disappointment.

Accept It

How do you handle adverse situations? Be like Hamish and accept it. Acceptance is surrender, and there is great strength in it. By surrendering to the situation you become free internally.

Sunshine and rainbows are always out there, even in the worst thunderstorm. If you look hard enough, you will find them.

Cites

https://unsplash.com/@sonctw

https://unsplash.com/@johnkofi28

InspireChief9 Comments

The Joys Of Driving

Ah, the joys of driving in South Florida. I believe I might have mentioned this topic in some previous posts. It is always an adventure; you never know what will happen. Will there be an overturned fuel truck that blocks both lanes of I-95 for hours? Possibly. Is somebody going to shoot at me for an unknown reason? Unlikely. How many times will I get flipped off? It’s definitely going to happen. How many times? Your guess is as good as mine.

In today’s post, I just want to implore my fellow drivers to stop the hypocrisy. Be the person you are.

A Little Tale About The Joys Of Driving

The perfect example happened to me the other day. I was driving home from the driving range after hitting a few balls. It is a short trip up the Florida Turnpike, with only two exits. At one point, I was passed by someone who was clearly not having a great day. I had to smile as he passed by with his arm up giving me the finger.

It is not clear what this person didn’t like about me or possibly my vehicle. I’m not a “bumper sticker guy” with political bumper stickers on my car. In fact, the only things on my windows are college insignias.

This Is Driving Me Crazy

As I said previously, I am never bothered by other people’s antics, especially when driving. It is just part of the joys of driving in South Florida. What did rile me up, just a bit, about this particular person, was his window sticker. It read: “Be Kind.”

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https://unsplash.com/@gwendal

I have had it up to here (tapping myself on the top of the head) with the hypocrites of the world. We don’t need anymore, we have more than enough of them in Washington DC. So here goes the instructional portion of this post.

If you are an A-hole, then be an A-hole. Embrace your A-holeness completely. Don’t half-ass it, be the best A-hole you can be. Strive to be the number 1 A-hole on the planet.

Don’t Be The Great Pretender

Stop pretending that you are a kind person who drives around with a “Be Kind” window sticker on your car. Who are you to tell others to “Be Kind.” You are an A-hole, but not even a good A-hole. You try to hide behind your sticker and hope those that don’t know you think you are kind.

If you are a kind person and be kind 24/7, not part of the time. It is a full-time job. Being an A-hole should also be a full-time job unless you are a hypocrite. Learn your identity and choose one or the other.

For all of the kind people out there, please remember, that even the full-time A-holes deserve love and it is all part of learning to love unconditionally. Here in South Florida, it is just another day of experiencing the joys of driving.

Cites

https://unsplash.com/@adamnem

https://unsplash.com/@gwendal

InspireChief14 Comments
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What Is Our Purpose

What is our purpose here on earth? It is a question I often ponder, never getting the concise, clear answer I am looking for. Possibly, one day it will be revealed to me in a manner I can understand.

We are all given gifts when we are born. These internal gifts help us make choices about how we are going to live our lives. We feel drawn or attracted to certain vocations. For example, I have always been drawn to providing service to others. It explains why I was attracted to the military and law enforcement.

The Big Question: What Is Our Purpose

Even though I was given the gift of service, I don’t believe it is my purpose here. I saw a lot of the darker side of life during my career. The things I experienced made me angry and judgmental. It was after I retired that I found peace.

I wrote the paragraphs above at the beginning of May. In my post last week, I wrote about experiencing resistance and how it came in the form of writer’s block. Today, the question in my mind is: Am I being pointed in another direction?

When I experience these times of resistance, I believe it means I am on the right track. It is my ego’s way of keeping me from doing something I’m supposed to do. My consciousness is telling me to write, and my ego is resisting. It is this battle that creates the void and silence in my mind. Therefore, when I can’t write, I read.

The Answer To Our Purpose

It was through reading that I not only overcame the resistance, but I believe I found the answer to my question; what is our purpose? My wife began telling me about a fascinating book she was reading, Many Lives, Many Masters by Brian L. Weiss M. D. She read some passages from the book and I immediately understood and connected with what she was saying.

In 1980, Dr. Weiss met a patient, Catherine, who changed his life. Catherine suffered from panic attacks, anxiety, and fear. After 18 months of psychotherapy, Catherine agreed to undergo hypnosis to uncover painful and repressed memories. While hypnotized, she began describing past lives in detail. Her symptoms began disappearing as she recounted more and more past lives.

Neither Dr. Weiss nor Catherine believed in past lives and reincarnation before she went under hypnotherapy. While reading the book, it was revealed to me not only my purpose but that everyone’s purpose on earth is to learn to love during their lifetime. We must love everyone unconditionally. Humans have yet to learn this valuable lesson.

Spiritual Beings

We are spiritual beings in the human body. Our physical bodies carry the soul and will someday die; they have an expiration date. Our soul is energy and therefore, eternal. It is made from the universe and will return after our physical body stops working.

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https://unsplash.com/@pajevictoria

I feel inspired to fulfill my purpose on earth. What am I supposed to learn here during this lifetime? All my readings say we must learn to love unconditionally, everyone and everything while we are here.

There Is Much More

I believe there is much more to this being our ultimate goal. Each of us must learn to overcome our past and the faults we acquired during those times. We must conquer our fears and anxieties, look deep inside ourselves and see what is holding us back.

Are you thinking about how friends and family will react to what you have chosen to do? Do you feel as if you need approval from outside sources? You might even crave approval from anyone.

It is exactly how I was feeling. Before I made a decision, I would picture the reaction people close to me would have to my decision. Then I made one important change; I started listening to my heart. I can feel in my heart if my choices are good and pure. If my heart tells me that my choices are good, God has approved them. That is all the approval that you or I need.

Learn To Love

God loves each one of us unconditionally and only asks that we learn to do the same. If everyone on earth learns to love unconditionally, all killing, maiming, and wars will cease. We have the power to change the world; all we have to do is start using it. Start with yourself and teach one other person the art of loving unconditionally.

Cites

https://unsplash.com/@marekpiwnicki

https://unsplash.com/@pajevictoria

Weiss, Brian L. Many Lives, Many Masters the True Story of a Prominent Psychiatrist, His Young Patient, and the Past-Life Therapy That Changed Both of Their Lives. Piatkus, 2020.

InspireChief12 Comments
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A Bad Case Of Writer’s Block

I haven’t been around lately because I have a bad case of writer’s block. Normally, I like to write and post on a regular schedule, but as of late, I cannot come up with the content to write about. Others have suggested that I re-purpose some of my old posts. When I think of doing that, I don’t get a good feeling about it, so I have scratched that option.

Before, I would get inspiration from anywhere (I am assuming like most of you). It could come from reading a book in one line in that book would turn into a post. Seeing someone on the street that mentioned something in passing; could turn into a post. Many times, inspiration would hit me while exercising, and I would write an article in my head, later transferring it to paper.

After discussing this issue with Cindy Georgakas of uniquelyfitblog.wordpress.com, she suggested writing about what I am experiencing. So here I am, and I will try to describe what I’m feeling the best I can. Please be aware that when I talk about God, I am talking about Infinite Intelligence, the Great Creator, the Universe, whatever word you use. I believe they were all talking about the same God, even if we come from different religions.

Before May, writing my blog posts was easy for me. I wake early, and the first thing I do is drink 24 ounces of water. While drinking, a thought enters my mind, and before I know it, I’m writing the next post. After I returned from my daughter’s graduation (yay Lindsey), the ideas stopped coming. I thought it would only last a couple of days, and I quickly resumed my daily routine.

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https://unsplash.com/@honza_kahanek

After giving thanks, meditation, and prayer, I sat down and opened my journal. Nothing came to me except a bad case of writer’s block. I just stared at the blank paper waiting to be filled with words. Since I have learned to enjoy writing, I couldn’t comprehend what was happening. Days turned into weeks; still no inspiration.

One of the confusing issues I have is that everything else in my life is going well. I am healthy, happy, and feel closer to God than ever before. I am reading more than I ever have. In contrast with my blog, the fictional novel I’m working on is almost writing itself. Ideas flow to me when I’m writing fiction. The scenes play out in my head like a movie. I then transition to writing my blog, and the ideas stop. Having a bad case of writer’s block is very frustrating.

Because I don’t know exactly what is happening, I have become inundated with questions. Is God pointing me in another direction? Am I supposed to put more effort into my other endeavors? Why is this resistance happening right now? Is the timing significant? How long will it last?

I know that God will always point me in the right direction. God is always taking care of me even when I stayed a good distance from Him. The answer will come sooner or later, in Divine timing. I trust and have complete faith.

If anyone has any suggestions, I am open and ready to receive them. I truly appreciate everyone who takes the time to visit my site and comment. Once again, thank you, Cindy. It feels good to be publishing a post once more.

Cites

https://unsplash.com/@steve_j

https://unsplash.com/@honza_kahanek

InspireChief16 Comments
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Colorado Trip The Last Day

Colorado Trip The Last Day. All good things have to come to an end. Even this wonderful trip that Sofia and I began a mere six days before. It felt like we had been there for weeks because we had done so much in the last six days. Today was the last day of our Colorado trip.

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The Last day Of Our Colorado Trip

Since our flight wasn’t until 6:00 PM, we had plenty of time to enjoy another day in Colorado. What was one thing that we had not done visiting the Rocky Mountain state? Visit the Rocky Mount National Park, of course! So I hopped on the old inter-web and procured us a vehicle pass and a timed entry pass.

After loading the car and saying goodbye to Wilhelmina and Paul, we headed down the long winding driveway. As soon as we turned onto the road, we were greeted by three young bucks standing in the roadway. They politely walked to the side and posed for some pictures.

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He Seemed To Enjoy The Photo Session

Over The Continental Divide

The night before, I had decided to enter the park on the west side by Grand Lake. We would traverse the mountains, cross the Continental Divide, and exit at Estes Park. The airport was only an hour and a half drive from there, so we had plenty of time. It was another scenic drive to the park entrance.

Beware The Ganja

We stopped at the Rocky Mount National Park sign for some pictures and met two lovely young ladies. They had sweet, southern accents with which they amused us with a story about a marijuana dispensary encounter the day before. It seems they purchased an herbal laced brownie and plan to enjoy it in their room. After eating a corner of the brownie, they realized it was much more powerful than they thought. They had an interesting evening until the effects wore off.

After saying goodbye, we began our drive up and over the mountains. It wasn’t long until we came around a curve and saw people standing on the side of the road. I looked over into the meadow and two moose were grazing in the distance. I found a place to pull over and Sofia ran back to snap some photos.

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A Quick Breakfast

Breathtaking

The scenery and vistas from the top of the mountain, like Sofia, are breathtaking. Once again, I realized how small we are on this vast rock spinning around the sun. Several more photos and selfies were taken as we made our way down the mountain.

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Beautiful

At the bottom, we stopped at the visitor center which has a gift shop and restaurant next door. The day was warm, so we decided to ask for a table outside. While enjoying a bowl of elk stew, I got to look at a mountain and a beautiful stream running below us. I wanted to enjoy the view one last time before heading to Denver.

Home Sweet Home

Mountains always amaze me since the highest point in South Florida is a hill made out of garbage. Before they started the landfills, the highest point was a speedbump in Coral Gables. After another uneventful for our flight, we arrived in Fort Lauderdale around midnight. After collecting our luggage, we headed outside and were greeted by a blast of heat and humidity. It may be hot and humid, but it is “home sweet home.”

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Colorado Trip Part 4

Colorado Trip Part 4. Day 5 began with another beautiful sunrise. Our plans today were to make the two-hour trek to Estes Park. Estes Park, Colorado is the home of the Stanley Hotel. The idea to visit the Stanley Hotel was given to me by my sister. She is a big Stephen King fan.

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Our Trip To Colorado Part 4

The Stanley Hotel inspired King to write his book, The Shining. He stayed in room 217 while writing the book. I’m not much of a Stephen King fan, but I knew of the Stanley from watching shows about the paranormal. The Stanley is supposed to be one of the most haunted places in America.

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You Don’t See This From The Highways

Once again, we were provided with a route among the backroads to get to Estes Park. The drive was stunning as we were driving through a gorge with walls of rock on either side of the road. Arriving in the town of Blackhawk, I was surprised by the many casinos. It is a mini Las Vegas in Colorado.

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The Stanley Hotel

Looking For Ghosts

As we pulled into Estes Park, we saw the hotel on our left. It was huge. It is a beautiful, all-white building with a red roof. We pulled up to the gate, paid our parking fee, and parked at the bottom of the hill. Walking up the steps to the lobby, we kept our eyes open for ghostly apparitions. I can confidently say that we didn’t see any.

Because the Stanley Hotel is a working hotel and a tourist destination, only guests are allowed above the first floor. I overheard the employee behind the front desk say that all the room keys on the wall were fake except for room 217. That was the original key. We proceeded downstairs to a little café where we drank hot chocolate, and I had a piece of cherry pie.

A Great Historical Tour

I had booked a historical tour of the hotel, which is well worth the money. During the tour, we were told that the founder F. O. Stanley had grown up in a lower to middle-income family. During that time in history, people had to sit still for 45 minutes to an hour to get their picture taken. Stanley figured out a way to reduce the time down to 45 seconds to a minute. He noticed a pain point and figured out a solution. This made him very wealthy.

Within a few months, he was making over $100,000 a month. Today that would be equal to $3 million a month. Stanley’s home is just down the road from the hotel. He built the hotel to house his wealthy friends when they came to visit him. His friends were named Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, Carnegie, all the wealthiest people of the day.

Did Jim Carrey See A Ghost?

During the tour, we were told various stories of people having paranormal events while staying at the hotel. One of the stories was of Jim Carrey. Carrey was supposed to stay in room 217 while filming the movie, Dumb and Dumber. He only lasted three hours when he ran downstairs in his boxers, demanding to be moved. He refused to stay in any building on the grounds, instead opting for the Holiday Inn down the street.

After our tour, we ate at the hotel restaurant and whiskey bar. The food was tasty, and I chose a rare Japanese whiskey which was very smooth. The bar was used in the film, Dumb and Dumber and even has the New York Times article about the first moon landing hanging on the wall (not the original, it was stolen).

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No Way. That’s Great. We Landed On The Moon!!

The Blue Owl

After purchasing some items at the gift shop, we began our drive back to the B&B. This time we went through the city of Boulder and then stopped at the town of Nederland. We were told about the Blue Owl bookstore/ice cream/coffee shop. On our way to Estes Park, it had been closed. Luckily for us, it was open, and we enjoyed a nice cone. It was a great way to end the day.

Day 6

Day 6 was spent in the ski resort town of Breckenridge. Breckenridge is a beautiful town, but a little too touristy for my taste. We traveled there with Sofia’s friends and saw bison on the way. We ate at a busy restaurant, and I enjoyed a bison burger. It is very lean meat and tasty. Afterward, we boarded a gondola which took us to the top of the mountain. We looked up at the ski slopes, which would soon be covered in snow. Today though, they are covered in grass, and people traverse them on mountain bikes.

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Neighbors

Our last full day in Colorado ended with us pulling into our friend’s neighborhood and being greeted by 40-50 elk. They were all over her neighborhood grazing. What a sight! Colorado is a different place to live. To be continued.

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Colorado Trip Part 3

Colorado Trip Part 3. I woke on Day 3 feeling great. All the soreness from yesterday’s hike was gone. I proceeded downstairs, poured myself a cup of coffee, and went to the deck to watch the sunrise. I sat in silent meditation for several minutes. Suddenly, I heard something moving behind me again. Slowly turning around, I solved the mystery of the great beast. There it was standing on the steps staring at me, a little chipmunk.

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Part 3 Of Our Colorado Trip

The wedding was scheduled for 4 o’clock, so we needed to stay close to the B&B. Sofia takes a while to get ready. I have never figured out what takes so long because she is naturally beautiful. Yesterday, we saw a trailhead close to the B&B and decided to go for a hike. The forecast was for rain, but we were told that rain in Colorado was not like Florida rain. It just drizzles.

We drove to the Elk Meadow Trailhead and parked. The sun was out and it was a beautiful, cool day. Grabbing our water bottles, we started up the mountain. The views got better with every switchback. Unlike the St. Mary’s glacier trail, this trail was smooth. It was much easier on my knees.

Look Around

One thing that I always do is take my eyes off the trail directly in front of me. I take my time to look around and enjoy the journey. Flowers and wildlife are abundant in Colorado. We saw a large bluebird that looked like the Blue Jays back home. Only this bird was much larger and had a blackhead. We were told it was a Mountain Jay, a beautiful bird.

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Elk Meadows Trail

Decisions

We came to a point where the trail split. To the left continued up the mountain, and the right would take us down around the meadow. Since we were short on time, we chose the meadow. The hiking was easy in this past meadow, and we were making good time. Sofia turned to me and said she felt a raindrop. No big deal because Colorado rain isn’t like Florida rain. The raindrops became larger and colder. That’s when the thunder and lightning started. I began to feel that we were lied to about the Colorado rain.

We found ourselves in the middle of a meadow during a thunderstorm. This is not the place you want to be. We had no choice but to keep hiking. Soaked and cold, we eventually made our way back to the car after 2.5 hours.

A Colorado Wedding

After a much welcomed hot shower, I put on a suit for the first time in almost a year. Sofia looked ravishing in her dress. I have to say we made a sharp couple. Off we went to the wedding which, was held on Evergreen Lake at the Lake House.

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My Beautiful Wife

The ceremony was outdoors and delayed only a few minutes because of the rain. The clouds parted, the sun came out, and we watched a young couple begin their journey together as man and wife. I always enjoy the beginning of anything. It is inspiring, so full of promises. We danced, sang, laughed, and a few happy tears were shed. It was a wonderful night.

Day 4

On day 4, I woke to the most spectacular sunrise. The sun was a bright red ball in the sky. This was caused by the fires in California and the smoke drifting to Colorado. Sofia and I sat outside enjoying our coffee. We went to breakfast and met two new couples that had arrived the night before. They were very nice people, and we got along like old friends.

What A Life

Later, we had the opportunity to speak with Wilhelmina. We found out that she had lived a wonderful life. She was born in the Netherlands and raised in Australia. Wilhelmina became a dancer and choreographer and married a well-known British comedian, They had met all of the big entertainers. Even though she was 80, she looked closer to 60. She still plays golf, skis, hikes, and runs a weight loss program. She is a very inspiring woman, and I could have sat all day talking.

Mt. Evans

We told Wilhelmina that we were going to drive up to Mount Evans. Mount Evans sits between 12,000-14,000 feet above sea level. Wilhelmina told us that it could be cold up there and let us borrow heavy jackets. It was another beautiful drive through the back roads and up the mountain. We climbed above the tree line and arrived at Summit Lake.

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Summit Lake

As soon as we exited the car, we were thankful we had the jackets. The temperature was 41 degrees, and the wind was blowing. It might as well have been Antarctica to us. After stopping to talk to some Park volunteers about the mountain goats and bighorn sheep, we hiked up to the Chicago Lakes.

No Excuses

As we were hiking, we passed an elderly lady with a club foot. Seeing this lady not let anything stop her from doing something she enjoys made me realize that I make too many excuses. You should never let anything get in the way of doing something that you want to do. You can always find a way.

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Selfie By The Lake

We took some great pictures at Summit Lake, enjoyed the views then headed down the mountain. We had made plans to drive to Denver and watch some football. Denver is a nice city, and we saw a lot of neighborhoods full of young people. This is something we don’t have a lot of in Florida. It’s called God’s waiting room for a reason.

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Blake Street Tavern Denver, Colorado

My Best Friend

We made it to the Blake St., Tavern, a large Sports Bar. There was a good crowd enjoying the first day of college football season. People were happy they were able to gather together again. We watched my school play that evening, and even though the outcome wasn’t in my favor, I wouldn’t want to be there with anyone other than Sofia. She is my best friend. Every part of the trip had been wonderful. We were excited, looking forward to what we would see the next day. To be continued.

InspireChief6 Comments
colorado-trip-part-2-sunrise.

Colorado Trip Part 2

On the second day of our trip, I woke and then went downstairs and poured myself a cup of coffee. With mug in hand, I walked outside enjoying the cool air. Sitting on the deck, I enjoyed a spectacular sunrise. After a light continental breakfast, I hiked to the bottom of the mountain, feeling very energetic. Our Colorado Trip Part 2.

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Colorado Trip Part 2

When I made it back to the B&B, I wanted to continue enjoying the cool Colorado temperatures of late summer. I sat at the table on the deck and marveled at how silent it was. The silence was only broken by a car passing by now and then. I looked around at all the aspen trees, which have small leaves that shimmer in the breeze.

Shortly thereafter, 5 or 6 hummingbirds arrived and began flittering about. I then heard something run behind me, and I didn’t know what it was. We were told there were all kinds of wildlife on the mountain, including bears and mountain lions. Therefore, I was a little concerned but not enough to go inside.

Idaho Springs, Colorado

After Sofia finished some work, we proceeded downstairs to begin our day. We told Wilhelmina that we were going to hike to St. Mary’s glacier. She told us how to take a scenic drive to the town of Idaho Springs instead of taking the highway. Without her advice, I would’ve just followed the GPS and probably taken the highway. That would’ve been a huge mistake because the drive was gorgeous.

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Drive To Idaho Springs

We started in a valley and then drove up into the mountains with the most incredible views. Arriving in Idaho Springs, we found a parking spot on the street. Idaho Springs is a small gold mining town with a lot of character. I fell in love with this town. Wilhelmina had suggested we eat it at Tommyknocker Brewery.

Great Beer

The main street in Idaho Springs is blocked off for pedestrians only. We were seated and our server brought out samples of their homebrew. Every sample I tried was tasty. I don’t drink beer anymore since I went through chemo. It tends to taste metallic. Nonetheless, I chose a Chocolate Porter that hit the spot. Sofia had a Blood Orange IPA I also found very tasty.

After a beer and burger lunch, we walked around the town and down to the creek. There was a beautiful waterfall and a large wooden waterwheel in front of it. Across the creek, I could see the entrance to old gold mining tunnels.

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Idaho Springs, Colorado

St. Mary’s Glacier

We then drove to St. Mary’s glacier, which was about 10 miles higher into the mountain. After parking and dropping off the parking fee, we headed up the trail. The hike is steep and full of large rocks. They didn’t smooth out the trail but left the rocks and boulders right where the glacier deposited them many years ago.

It was hard on my arthritic knees, but I trudged on. Wilhelmina had given us sea-level people a tip before we left. She said to stop and fill our lungs with air every so often. At sea level, we only use half of our lungs. I didn’t know that, and I’m still learning at my age.

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Rocky Trail

Finding Inspiration

I found a lot of inspiration hiking up this trail. There were all different types of people despite the ruggedness of the trail. I saw very fit people and some that were overweight. There were young and old. I was most impressed by seeing the children that were hiking up the steep, rocky trail. Every time I thought we were at the top, the trail turned and continued up.

We finally reached the top and were greeted by a beautiful lake and the remains of St. Mary’s glacier on the mountainside. After some photos and rest, we headed back down the trail. It is a lot harder going down thing going up. Eventually, I made it, sore knees and all.

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St Mary’s Glacier

An Evening With Old And New Friends

We drove back to the B&B to shower and change. That evening we were invited to the rehearsal dinner/welcome party at our friend’s house. I always enjoy watching Sofia conversing with her friends. She has known them since she was five years old. I can see the joy on her face when they get together.

Meeting new friends and getting to know them is something I always enjoy. The party shut down early because they had a long day getting ready for the wedding the next day. It was good for me because I was getting tired, and the hike had taken a toll on this old body. It felt good to crawl into bed. I think I was asleep before my head hit the pillow. To be continued.

InspireChief9 Comments