Aug. 10, 2007 - 22:43 MDT

THE HAVEN

Whenever cares press Heather and I too heavily, we draw closer together and seek the solace that we found individually as children.

Our mountains, the paradise of hills, water and pines. A place where we could be at peace, breathe the scents of the wild rather than the smoke of towns. Where we played our own games, with others or by ourselves, enjoying them to the max.

Today Heather and I went up to the claim that our two sons and their cousin owned, downstream Clear Creek from Idaho Springs on Highway 6. The two surviving boys, our oldest son and his cousin still own the claim, though neither of them can work it anymore.

We walked around the gate and down to the stream, walked along it while sifting memories of better times there. Seeing familiar things, listening to the sound of the water in the creek hurrying to the ocean. Observing plants we had not seen before, and finding a few Scotch Thistles in bloom.

And we weren't alone as groups of rafters made their way downstream, colorful and happy were they as they floated on down.

There is something that satisfies our souls, being in the piney woods in our mountains, something that soothes us and restores our confidence in the future. Maybe it shouldn't be, but it is. And in times we are undergoing the current events, we desperately need THE HAVEN . . . . . . . . .

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