This was from our first trip to Colorado as a couple. Six years ago today, we packed up the telescopes and the dogs and headed west for a three week adventure.

He found the Elk shed pictured below while we were out hiking one day. That shed hangs proudly on the outside of our cabin here in the Red River Gorge. It’s a reminder to us that no matter how bad things get between us, we can work our way through it just by going on a hike together.

It was the most godforsaken awful road trip I had ever been on. Dave was in a Jerk Phase which made an bad situation an unbearable situation.

He wanted to go to a Star Party. A week long event in a field where old men with expensive telescopes spent their evenings gazing into the universe…and their days sleeping. They had RVs, AC and generators. We had a truck and a tent. There was no electricity nor running water. We were in the middle of nowhere and it was extremely hot and dry…and so windy the sand could choke you. Did I mention the lack of trees or shade? They had portapotties for us poor folk who did not have the luxury of a RV with a bathroom. I am thankful for that. Oh yeah…it was “that time of the month”. Ugh!

We fought and snarled at each other all week. The dogs were miserable. We still had two more weeks of road tripping after that. I could not wait to get home so I could break up with him…wait a second…that’s right…I didn’t wait…we broke up twice (or was it three times?) on that trip.

As we were rolling out of the area I told him (with much anger) if he EVER took me back to that place again….and I didn’t even finish the sentence…because I couldn’t even think of an evil enough punishment for what he put me through.

After the star party we traveled north and met up with his son, David and his new girlfriend Dawn. We were to meet them in a town called Salida. This town was magic to us. After much needed showers at the hotel, we ventured out on bikes, weaving through the maze of streets lined with tiny little houses, each kept in pristine artistic flare. We were in love…with the town, of course…we still hated each other at this point in the trip.
The next evening as we sat outside an ice cream cafe watching the 4th of July fireworks in the cool night air, he whispered in my ear…”I could live here.” and even then…I knew that some day we would.