bird by bird

Five years ago when people asked me why I was moving to New York, the best answer I could give was, "Because it's New York, that's why." It sounds a little arrogant now looking back, but for the most part, people understood what I meant. New York is the epicenter of art, business, culture, fashion (and all the other sections of the NYTimes), and so it didn't take a lot of explaining when I told people I was leaving SD for NY. But now I'm getting asked that same question about my upcoming move to Denver. "Why Denver?" I am asked. I'm finding the answer to be harder to nail down. So I thought about it, and here's why ...Because I grew up on the prairie and then moved to the city, and now, as they say, "the mountains are calling and I must go." ...Because I crave a fresh start and fresher air. ...Because I want to be closer to home, closer to my mom and her cat and our lake cabin and an airport that I can fly directly into. ...Because ...

"If you grew up around alcoholism, one of the first things you learned to do was agree not to see what was really going on." --Anne Lamott

One night about six months ago, I had a dream that we were on a trip together, in a wooded area in Latvia. We were in a tourist group led by my Colombian friend Santiago, and we were climbing over rocks and leaves and broken branches. We stumbled upon a part in the trail where there was a massive swarm of bees that we had no choice but to walk through. I could physically feel hundreds of bees bouncing off my skin, arms, face, and I looked to you knowing that these tiny stinging bugs were your biggest fear. I saw terror in your eyes, and for a moment you reminded me of my father. You looked like a small boy, in the frame of a 31 (now 32) year-old-man. I opened up a big black umbrella and I promised you that if you took cover with me, I would protect you from them. I'd get you through the bees. We tried to use the umbrella as a shield, and I used my body to cover yours as best as I could, b...