Days Before the 4th
Days before the 4th…
Snowboarders glide down late-season snow banks in Colorado, and Indian grandmothers wearing saris hike with their families to Emerald Lake.
A marmot climbs a split rail fence, and a moose stands in a pond - pulling up weeds from the bottom.
A full moon rises over mountains, rivers, and McDonald’s, and horses begin arriving in Cheyanne before the 127th annual Frontier Days and the rodeo that is “The Daddy of ‘em All.”
A woman stands outside a planned parenthood clinic in Colorado, holding a sign that reads “We Can Help.” She says Colorado is becoming an abortion destination for women from states where abortion is banned. She wants to help pregnant women in crisis because she has been there. Her first child was from a rape, but she is thankful she chose to keep her daughter, who has her eyes and her personality.
The sun sets over a crowd gathered in a construction zone, watching young men spinning out in cars and setting off fire works. They race away as the police arrive.
A desk clerk checks guests into a motel close to the Denver airport. His championship ring from his semi-professional football team takes up most of a finger. He played football for 30 years, but the spinal injuries and memory loss caught up with him, and his wife said it was time to retire. He says she is right but wants to play one more time. He explains that the row of buses and RVs with their generators running along the street are homeless families who can no longer afford rent. He understands because his rent is $1900 a month for a small 3-bedroom apartment and keeps going up.
A dad runs through the airport to get the wallet his son left in security, and a stewardess is flying on an off day to see her grandbaby. She was a single mom when she became a flight attendant 18 years ago when complimentary meals and multiple snacks were part of the service. She says people became more impatient during COVID and forgot how to be next in line.
A coffee shop chalkboard is covered with advice from customers such as “Never let your friends wonder how much you love them” Another coffee shop asks for the favorite songs of 2023. There are songs by Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, and Miley Cyrus, but also “Sunny Day” by Anees, “To Philly” by Del Waters, and “Dancing in the Courthouse” by Dominic Fike. “Sacred the Thread” by Greta Van Fleet is written in blue across the middle of the board.
‘I've caught the wind in a kite of dreams
In a flight of seams
Like freedom sewn
And the people roar
And the people soar
Sacred the thread
Sacred the thread
I've caught the wind in a kite of dreams
In a flight of seams”
Sacred are the threads that tie us together.
Happy 4th of July.
