Denver.
The day was a real change in weather from the dry 92-101 degree weather I’ve been experiencing every day so far. I was surprised (and a little disappointed) to find it was both raining and kind of cool when I stepped out of the hotel this morning, around 8:45. It did brighten and warm up as the day went on, but even so remained a little cooler than usual, although nice weather.
I started out the day by going to my buddy Tom Leversee’s house in Lakewood, Denver, and met his lovely wife, Jan, who I know of through my many conversations with Tom over the years. I was there that morning to use Tom and Jan’s internet, as I was being interviewed for a live streamed one hour event by my professional organization ATSA, as the fourth in the series, Visionary Voices. Yes, that’s me, a visionary voice. Who knew?
The interview went well (I think), and then I headed out for the day, returning late afternoon to have dinner with Jan and Tom. It’s actually available now on youtube: https://youtu.be/9YRRhHLT85g?si=bHUIlFNjJO28aIYw
I went back to visit Shikha, and stayed for a couple of hours. Shikha was still fairly aware, but less cogent than yesterday. It was a less emotional visit than yesterday’s, but nevertheless so very, very sad to see my good and loving friend Shikha in this condition.
While I was there, I saw this clipping from the 1980’s of Shikha, Antara, and Indrina in India, when they met Mother Theresa. Amazing. Amazing Shikha.
I’ll come back to visit Shikha again tomorrow afternoon, and after leaving headed for Red Rock park and amphitheater in Denver, the site of many a concert. On the way, I spotted the nearby Lakeside Amusement Park, opened in 1908 but still going strong.
The sign on the entrance reads, Ride the Cyclone, the Greatest Coaster in North America. Well, maybe in 1940, when it was installed. Great looking though. Hey, maybe Kaye and I will visit.
Red Rock Park is just, well, spectacular, as is the incredible amphitheater with incredible and beautiful views, just outside of Denver in Golden, at an altitude of about 6,500 feet. What a place to see a concert, and what a place to play a concert.
After walking around a bit, I took a short, but moderate hike of about 2 miles on the Geological Overview trail, with stunning rock formations and views, including a view over Denver.
Even the roads and parking lots are beautiful in Red Rock Park, with a beautiful tunnel through the red Aztec sandstone rock that cars and hikers pass through.
As I left Red Rock, the weather was cooling again and a heavy thunderstorm followed, for maybe 15 minutes, but was heavy. I felt sorry for those people in the amphitheater waiting for tonight’s concert with Mt. Joy (never heard of them, but what does that mean?).
I drove around for a bit as the rain stopped, and it was heavy there for a while, just checking out the community near Red Rock, and then headed to Jan and Tom’s for dinner, which was very nice. I enjoyed getting to know Jan a little. We ate outside, but it was sort of sweatshirt weather as we approached the evening, and the first time it was too cool to wear a tank top since I started this journey.
Tomorrow, Tom and I will have breakfast with another Denver friend, Chris, and then Tom and I will go off into the mountains somewhere. And Kaye arrives tomorrow evening
Some of my thoughts for the day. I’m in this situation where I’m awash in this journey, which is taking up all my thoughts and focus. I have no real goal, except the journey itself, and releasing Bev’s ashes (next place for that ritual will be in Boulder, which Bev loved when we were there in 2021, and after that Arches National Park in Moab, Utah, where we hiked and Bev loved the environment and ambiance), but otherwise I have no focus on or idea about what my life will be at the end of the journey.
The last time I was in a situation of goallessness was 1976-1977, age 25/26. That journey helped set me on my life from 1977 until Feb 29, 2024, when I once again became goalless and life lost meaning and substance. This time, I’m 73. The vastness of this journey is taking up all my time, washing over me with thoughts about Bev and our life, and the journey itself is the meaning, and is everything, for now.
Back to that favorite quote that Bev reminded me of back in 1979, from the Tao Te Ching. “Going on means going far; going far means returning.” The same sentiment is presented by the poet T. S. Elliot: “We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.”
I’m on that journey, in which I hope to re-know my life, which I thought I did know, until the loss of Bev.