This month marks 47 years since I first fell in love with Colorado. Nearly a half century ago, my parents and sister closest to my age made my first trip from Florida to the Rocky Mountains. Iâll never forget the first time I saw the Front Range â it was a stormy afternoon as we drove toward Denver and the mountains, surrounded by clouds and illuminated by lightning, were truly magnificent.
We were traveling to visit my motherâs twin brother and his family. They were wonderful guides around their adopted city and took us to St. Maryâs Glacier, where this flatlander first saw snow! We also toured the Denver Art Museum and the then-named Denver Museum of Natural History (now known as the Denver Museum of Nature and Science), among other places since forgotten. Â