Under the eye of NORAD

Cheyenne Mountain is one of the peaks south of Colorado Springs proper. It is remarkable because it is the home of NORAD, a high level defense agency of the US government. They used to give tours but apparently thought better of it the last few years. Now the road there is marked "restricted". If you go anywhere outside the tourist areas of Colorado Springs you soon realize how central the military presence is to this town. Almost everywhere you go you are asked if you merit the military discount. Driving by Fort Carson Army base it was very touching to see all the signs hanging on the fence made by friends and family welcoming their soldiers home from deployment. In the stores the women standing in line are discussing when their husbands are going or coming, pride and anxiety a subtext to their conversation. The McDonald's where we stopped for lunch one day was a swirl of desert camouflage. The young ones, (somebody's son I think to myself with a little stab) and then the older career military men with a look of confidence and strength about them that I found quite, well,how do I say this, alluring. It makes me contemplate what it would be like to be a military wife. I think I'd like having my own hero, but I wouldn't like sending him off on dangerous missions.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Walking on Sunshine

The last couple of days in Colorado have been just as lovely as I had imagined they would would be. Sunshine, when it is delivered with a cool breeze, is so awesome. On the advice of my relatives, I went to visit the Glen Eyrie estate. Indeed it was beautiful and I very much enjoyed seeing it. I would love to hike some of their trails. They looked so picturesque! Here are some pictures of the castle, the rock formations, and the meadow full of bighorn sheep.








A late afternoon drive through the Garden of the Gods is one of my favorite things. Gorgeous sights all around. I topped it off with a visit to the Trading Post which had a lot of the tourist stuff you would expect plus some more "artsy" stuff like flutes and rugs at the back.

I drove down to old town Colorado Springs through the backroads which is always interesting. A guy about my age was playing guitar on the sidewalk singing Neil Young songs. His female companion (also my age) was sitting nearby blowing kisses to the passersby. I remember when it was all the rage to move to Colorado back in the hippie days. Guess I know what happened to those people now. Long haired old guys are a dime a dozen.

I have enjoyed just looking out my window. This afternoon I was able to read a book while listening to the river rushing by and the trees blowing in the breeze. It was a special pleasure to observe the rain clouds move over Pikes Peak. Sometimes just being still, not rushing around to see things, let's you experience the really good stuff.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Colorado Springs, Colorado