I have been on a spiritual journey for a very long time. 

In October 2013, I wrote a blog called, My Church, so I won't get all preachy here (pun fully inteneded), but feel free to read that post if you're so inclined.

I do know I will never have all the answers. I will never claim to be a perfect person. I have made some outlandish mistakes in my life. My closet still has a few skeletons I haven't shared with the world.

Last week Glennon Doyle Melton, the amazing woman behind Momastery reposted this video on FB. As soon as I saw it, I knew it would be the Sunday sermon I HAD to share.

WATCH THIS. It is but five and a half minutes of your day. And it will make you think.

You all "know" my friend Anita. Last night she had a birthday party. Friends and family galore. More food than should be legal. Lots of conversations. I was delighted to be invited.

Before the party, I was invited to Anita's church. In her kitchen. Officiated by her childhood friend Anthony. With readings by her kids.

I wanted to honor Anita by celebrating her birthday mass with her. 

I don't know the new responses. I know the old responses that are a part of my psyche from a very young age. I didn't take part in communion but I DID take part in the kiss of peace.

It was a short, touching beautiful mass and I am glad I went. It is something to witness the shimmer of love and hope and kindness in a room where the beliefs of all created a gorgeous aura of golden pink.

Please send loving thoughts to Sarah and her family as they say a final earthly farewell to her Mom, Kathy. Cancer took her life but her spirit could never be taken and will absolutely live on in the people she adored.

I am delighted to report that for the first time in a year, Jake was able to go to school for a full day for the week. Amy didn't know what the hell to do with herself, so she read a book and fell asleep. Go, Jake. Go, Amy.

Please feel free to send love and light to anyone you know needs it and if you would like to share their name in the comments I encourage you to do so.

xo

No life can escape being blown about 
By the winds of change and chance 
And though you never know all the steps 
You must learn to join the dance 

http://youtu.be/dbY3HJIKATI

Colorado happened because Trish bought a ticket to the concert and I said, "YES! I am in." And what a fabulous ride we took.

I urge you to do the same.

Buy a ticket. Go somewhere. Anywhere. Explore. Experience. Have an adventure. Go alone, Go with a friend. Go with your family. 

Just. Go.

I bet there is a ton in your own backyard you don't even know exists. (I know that's the truth for me!) Go for it. Be a tourist in your own state.

I will wait for your reports back.

xo

I'd fly above the trees
Over the seas in all degrees
To anywhere I please

http://youtu.be/EvuL5jyCHOw

WARNING: this post contains a lot of words and a lot of pictures. Each picture can be clicked on to be seen larger. Yes, it's worth it. Those of you who like the down and dirty posts will roll your eyes with THIS one. Aren't you glad I only do this once in a while...

When you go away for a long weekend, it is always fabulous if you are traveling with someone who you actually CAN travel with. That is the case with Trish and I. We hadn't spent any significant time together in well over 12 years. And yet, it worked. Beautifully!

Here's what WE did in case YOU ever want to copy us.

First: find a concert you want to attend at Red Rocks. In our case it was Mary Chapin Carpenter and the Indigo Girls with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra.

Next, have Trish do all the planning.

Then, show up - she'll pick you up at the airport!

We stayed in Lakewood, CO at a Homewood Suites. It was perfectly situated for everything we wanted to do. Breakfast was included. It was pretty good except for the morning they ran out of butter. If they ran out of coffee it might have turned tragic. And the hot tub was broken which was actually really sad.

It also helps if other people have been to where you're going and have ideas. Check out whatever they suggest.

We started out FRIDAY morning at the Garden of the Gods National Park in Colorado Springs. It was magnificent. The photo above is from the "Signature Rock." It has many signatures, but of course the yin yang is what caught my attention.

From Colorado Springs we headed to Manitou Springs where we had lunch at the FABULOUS Good Karma Coffee Lounge & Deli. Bright, comfy, cozy, farm to table deliciousness. Excellent service. THE perfect place to take a break.

Friday night we took the Lite Rail, $8.00 round-trip, from Lakewood to Denver.

Denver at night is VERY different from Denver during the day. There is a significant homeless population. There seems to be a lot of young men - probably under 30, many in tie-dyed shirts, cargo shorts, no shoes and dreads. We saw one woman - she was with a guy.

We found Jane's Mother Ship on our walk. Purple Power in Denver.

We walked the 16th Street Mall up to the Brown Palace Hotel where we had dinner at the Ship Tavern.

The Brown Palace is the oldest hotel in Denver. It is quite glorious. Gorgeous, one of a kind decor. The main lobby reminded me of The Plaza's tea room. I wasn't surprised when I saw they served high tea.

Beginning with Teddy Roosevelt in 1905, every President has stayed at the hotel with the exception of Calvin Coolidge. When The Beatles stayed there in 1964, they set up the main lobby as triage for all the girls who were fainting! One enterprising person from housekeeping cut up the bed linens into 6" x 6" squares and sold them. OH (!) if only eBay was around then!

The Ship Tavern gets an A for atmosphere. They had a wonderful group of talented entertainers singing, of all things, SHOW TUNES with an accompanist on the piano. The food gets a C - it was only EH. The price is stupid. I will give that a D. BUT, we can say we came, we saw, we ate. 

On SATURDAY we headed to Boulder. I. Fell. In. Love. What a magnificent city. I experienced a little bit of everyone I love in Boulder.

I called Bella from the car and told her to check out UC Boulder immediately.

I saw Peter there.

One of THE first shops we saw the the Lighthouse Bookshop. Well now, my therapists practice is called the Lighthouse Retreat & Wellness Center. Naturally, I saw THAT as a sign to go in!

We spent a good bit of time chatting it up with Hazel, the manager - who recognized my Intentions Bracelet the second I walked in the door. I bought a hand carved, beautiful, serene Buddha.

When we left we put away our purchases in the car and I stopped dead in the street when I saw The Hobbit poster. It brought back special memories of days gone by. 

I sent my mama the picture of the Wild Woman with a note that I was thinking of her.

The Voodoo Hair Lounge was just exactly the right thing to send to a friend of mine.

Boulder boasts the Pearl Street Mall. We enjoyed going into numerous art galleries and boutiques.

We ate at the Lazy Dog Sports Bar & Grill because it had a marvelous rooftop restaurant. The food was delicious. Wes, our server, was an adorable young man who moved to Colorado from Germany a year ago. He was military raised so it was interesting that he had no accent.

I was wiped out after Boulder. We made the executive decision to eat in that night and just rest. We had a lovely selection of cheese and crackers and apples and grapes, and of course, wine.

On SUNDAY, we headed back into Denver to see it during the day. We hooked up with Rick - originally from Queens - for a Pedi-Tour. Rick took us about in his pedicab and he took the pictures. We absolutely saw things we would NEVER have seen and/or found otherwise.

[All photo credit in Denver goes to Rick Kanner.]

We decided to get dinner from Jason's Deli in Lakewood before we headed out to Red Rocks. Note to Jason's Deli - come to NY.

After a quick shower we headed to Red Rocks Amphitheater to see the concert that started this whole adventure, Mary Chapin Carpenter and the Indigo Girls!

HOLY SHIT.

Seriously.

EVERYONE should see a concert in this location at least once in your life. Bring something to sit on and prepare to tailgate. Two things we did not do. But we now know better!

That's my new friend Meredith. She too was crying through MCC so I shared my tissues. I told her MCC would play "This Shirt." I lied. She did play "Come On, Come On," and "Ten Thousand Miles," as well as a few others - rounding her set to about an hour.

When the Indigo Girls came on stage the audience became electrified. I would guess it was at least a 60% gay audience - and lots and lots of hetero women with their friends. When they sang "Galileo" the place went nuts. They closed with Jeannie's favorite (not) song, "Closer To Fine" - everyone was on their feet singing along. It. Was. Awesome.

We created a playlist for the trip back to the hotel - getting out of Red Rocks takes a long time so we heard lots of excellent songs.

MONDAY we headed to Rocky Mountain State Park. We saw this along the way. No. We didn't stop.

When we got to the park, it was 73° degrees, thundering, lightening, and hailing. QUITE the welcome.

It cleared up fairly quickly. I cannot even begin to describe how majestic, glorious, breathtaking and astounding this park is. I do not care what your religious beliefs are, there has to be SOMETHING, absolutely something, greater than just me in order to create the wonder that surrounds you at this park. (Trish took 274 pictures here alone!)

We were blissed out by the time we made our way back to Lakewood. We decided on Chicago style pizza right by the hotel for dinner. Pizza and a Margarita. Life is good.

We left the hotel by 5:00 in the morning on Tuesday and began the reentry to "real life."

The pictures remind me just how phenomenal a time I had.

A good friend. A suite. A bottle of red, a bottle of white. Good books. Cold bedroom agreement. Easy going personalities.

THIS is what makes a great trip. Start planning yours.

xo

Music - come ON! Galileo, of course.

How long 'til my soul gets it right
Can any human being ever reach that kind of light
I call on the resting soul of Galileo
King of night vision, King of insight

http://youtu.be/dI1keSSwdcI