“Do you support Planned Parenthood?” This was the first question I heard from a Coloradan after landing in Colorado and stopping off for lunch on the way to my parent’s cabin in Twin Lakes. We were in a college town, the Colorado School of Minds. I was tired, hungry and we had just stepped outside of the car and realized we needed to cross the street to get to the restaurant when this young man wearing a green t-shirt with PLANNED PARENTHOOD blazoned across the front, toting a clipboard positions himself in front of me and blurts that out.
Caught off guard I thankfully still had my wits about me, “No, I do not!” I said sternly and gave him a look that I’m sure said what I thought about planned parenthood. The kid had fire up his bootie because I’m not sure I’ve ever seen someone move away from me that fast. 😉
Thankfully the rest of ‘vacation’ in Colorado was spent relishing in God’s glorious nature. The vastness of God’s creative design leaves me in awe. When we came upon the ‘twin lakes’ that offer my parents summer residence it’s name the view literally catches your breath. (Or is that the 9500+ altitude?) Nestled within the woods on the mountain along the flowing stream (rapids is more like it) sits my parents rustic log cabin. It has two bedrooms, one tiny bathroom, tiny kitchen and sitting area.
“If it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush.” Okay, so that’s ANOTHER statement I didn’t want to hear on this ‘vacation’. My parents met us at the gate of their property, allowed us the time to park the cars, get out and maybe stretch one arm before I heard the potty rules. The loan potty runs on well water and apparently that water comes from the stream which is freezing water, which then condensates on the bowl of the toilet every time it flushes, ultimately leaving a puddle of (clean) water on the floor. They found this out after having my sister and her friends there the week before.
Queasy from the thought of letting pee sit to ‘mellow’ I walked around the property to breath in the cool crisp air. Here is another garage cabin my parents built to store the car they keep on the property during the winter (it’s too high up to use as a winter cabin, too much snow). During the summer the car comes out and the cabin is used with a bed and small table/sitting area inside and a loft upstairs with cots.
It didn’t take long for this weakling to realize her lungs weren’t working to capacity. My head began to pound and I felt sick to my stomach. Thankfully my dad had an oxygen tank set aside for wusses like me. 😉 It helped to sit with oxygen for a few minutes to get my bearings. (Oh, but embarrassing when your kids are looking at you terrified because the oxygen tube up your nose ages you at least 20 years!)
We spent the rest of our ‘vacation’ going to an Adventure Park where I basically held everyone’s stuff while they did the roller coaster down the mountain, bungee jumped, zip lined, and a few even rode on this mechanical swing that FLUNG them over the canyon of the mountain! (Did I mention that my 65 yr old MOM was one of these fools?? And she BUNGEE JUMPED?? Way to show me, huh?? 🙂 ) I am not one for heights. I can barely stand on a 3 foot ladder without freaking out.
Our group went river rafting as well…thankfully we had young ones with us so there was an excuse to only do level 2 which was pretty tame. 😉
However, if you’ve realized I’ve been putting ‘vacation’ in quotes it’s because by the time Thursday rolled around and Neal and I had to leave for Tahoe (Neal had a work conference we had to attend) I was EXHAUSTED. My body was still trying to adjust to the altitude, my body ached from the cot like mattress in the camper where Neal and I stayed and it felt like we were up from the moment the sun peaked over the mountain till the stars shone the brightest. This was probably my favorite time in each day when we hung around the campfire.
I kid with the complaints. It truly was AMAZING. But itsn’t that how it is with all vacations? We go to get away from the hustle and bustle of life, yet when we come home we are so exhausted from our trip we need an extra day or two in order to get things in order so life can carry on.
I’m headed out to pick up my boys at my sister’s place in Waco, Texas. They’ve been with my parents since last Thursday! I’ll have to continue next time with PART II of this crazy time away.
May God bless you and yours!
Blessings
Shannon