We’re Back

It’s good to be home. I know I ranted about a political crisis or two last week instead of mentioning hills and trees, but I gotta be me.

Oh, the things worth seeing in the western world…

Boulder, Colorado rocks – literally. Michele, my sister, took us there so the boys could get a good dose of liberal culture. They soaked it all up: the good – Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream and anti-war protestors; the bad – fecal matter disguised as overpriced art; the ugly – a Rastafarian who dislocated his shoulders to fit inside a small box. (My oldest: “I don’t know what he’s going to do. This is scary.”)

An added bonus to our visit: getting to know my new brother-in-law, Scott, and a smidgen of his extended family (two brothers and father). To know them is to love them folks – don’t let their steely, conservative demeanor fool you. Hearts beat beneath all that armor. And a sense of humor, too. You heard me.

Example – as my husband chronicled in a comment section earlier:

Me: So what do you think of Sandra Day O’Connor retiring?

(Uncomfortable silence.)

Scott: I don’t follow the WNBA.

Then he smiled to show it was, indeed, a joke. They fawned over our children, laughed at Husband’s jokes and made eye contact while speaking to me. Despite Perkins for dinner one night, they are keepers.

Denver is a delightful town. Could do without nosebleeds every morning or sticking Vaseline up the boys’ nostrils every night to prevent what my youngest called “boo-boo nose”. But what geographic region doesn’t come with drawbacks? Don’t get me started on alligators.

The Rocky Mountains are amazing. Our children got to throw snowballs and catch snowflakes on their tongues. There’s also a certain amount of satisfaction that comes from hiking up a hill (fully lit, please, with no wild animals) to view the range from 2.5 miles above sea level. Maybe there’s something to be said for feeding children decent food and encouraging exercise. *Gloating alert.* That’s all I’m saying.

Another bonus: seeing my sister in her glory. Michele moved west, on her own, several years ago and made it. Despite getting lost driving around the corner, she’s a modern-day Mary Tyler Moore with the hair, the hat, the can-do attitude. Unlike MTM, Michele snagged a man, but she uses her maiden name in the middle – like me and Hillary – so that’s something.

Turns out, the traditional family vacation can be done without anyone losing a limb. Of course, my man and I probably lost more than a few brain cells yelling at crazy drivers, moody children, and inappropriate animals.

Otherwise, it was damn near perfect.