I often tell my Family, that it never really matters what I write about them, because most of them never read my blog anyway. Not the case with The Colorado Chronicles. I must say, I have enjoyed the friendly banter all week from the my family. Gee, I thought, if I could help one adolescent girl learn the facts of life, then The Colorado Chronicles were worth my time. But unsolicited guest post from various family members, that's even better.
Today's guest post is from the lovely and talent Jennifer Morris, "A Fashionable Traveler" in her own right. You may remember Jennifer from various other post including my Santa Fe series.
lJennifer's First Visit
| Thomas and Jennifer, 1991 |
As the girl who was lucky enough to marry the dart-throwing, pancake complaining Thomas, I feel compelled to add some color.
First of all, “cabin” in this family is a euphemism for really nice house in the middle of paradise. I recall my first trip to the “cabin.” It was Spring Break 1991, and Thomas and I were taking our first trip together. I was really excited but a little anxious about the state of this “cabin.” I knew there wasn’t a tv or telephone, but I wasn’t sure if there was a bathroom inside the house. Would there be refrigerator? Thomas was bringing a cook stove, so I was pretty sure we were roughing it. This Florida beach girl was nervous.
In addition to concerns about creature comforts, I knew there were coyotes and bears. And I was pretty sure serial murderers lived in Colorado in the middle of nowhere. And, we didn’t have a phone (I can’t believe I am old enough to say we didn’t have a cell phone either).
On the drive up I accidentally noticed (probably while snooping around for evidence of other girls in Thomas’s life), that there was a gun in the car. Eeek! I am not sure I had seen a gun before – certainly not one I could touch. As the 12 hour drive continued my paranoid, conspiracy theory glass is half empty personality couldn’t help but wonder, “Was Thomas taking me up to the ‘cabin’ to kill me?” I knew it was Crazy, but I was a crazy girl. I was madly in love with him and he with me. We were planning forever together; but, I had seen all the tabloids. I pushed away the crazy thoughts and told myself to enjoy the trip.
You can only imagine my surprise, bemusement, and indignation when I arrived at the “cabin” to find a beautiful home with three bedrooms, a bathroom with all of its amenities, a full kitchen stocked only how gourmand Dorothy Morris could stock it, hand carved walnut wood stairs, mile high windows showing the beautiful blue sky, and a view that rivals any I had ever seen. This “cabin” was nicer than any house I had ever lived in. Pure joy followed my surprise.
The only other bump I experienced on this first trip was my absolute fear of coyotes. I wasn’t entirely sure what they were – more like dogs or mountain lions – but I knew they were B-A-D. Our first night in bed I became fixated on the coyotes and the windows. I became convinced the coyotes could climb the trees and burst through the windows to eat us. Sleep was futile. Thomas’s laughing didn’t help.
I have had many years of wonderful memories in Colorado and I can’t wait for the FT to make some of her own. Oh, and some things never change. Regardless of where the infamous dart incident occurred or who was on the receiving end, I can assure you it was Thomas throwing them. You see, just this July my sweet husband of mine taught my nephews how to make shoe string darts, and HE BLEW ONE INTO MY THIGH!
Don’t worry Catherine, Thomas will be in Dallas this weekend with J.R.
