A few days ago I was talking with an editor I know about the now five (six? seven? eight? nine? ten?) planned books having to do with the State of Colorado, when he suddenly interrupted and asked, bluntly, when it was I fell in love with the State of Colorado.
The sixty-four thousand dollar question, that.
More so, when one considers 'the State' of Colorado, and all it entails. There is the State of Colorado, which is the state, as in being one of fifty states. There is the State of Colorado, which is the state of mind Colorado offers through its rich and unmatched environments, history, traditions, people, etc.. And then there is the State of Colorado, and the spirit it embodies.
I have travelled a great deal in my life thus far, with the plan to do more in the years come, but of all the places I have travelled, of all my experiences, none come close to the State of Colorado, and attempts on my part to quantify it through the written word is certainly a dishonest pursuit. That, in part, is what 'the State' of Colorado is about: Honesty, truth, and sincerity.
I know: I am avoiding the question previously posed to me by my friend, the editor. So let me say this, knowing it does not begin to address the question even superficially. I don't believe you can honestly, truthfully, and sincerely answer that question, because to do so in some manner one must include 'the State' of Colorado, which defies such simplistic considerations.
'The State' of Colorado can be framed by its unmatched environments, history, traditions, people, etc., yes, but that is only the beginning of 'the State' of Colorado, and to gain even a passing understanding and comprehension of what 'the State' of Colorado is all about one must be a Coloradan. Or Coloradoan, if you prefer.
That, by the way, is an example of what 'the State' of Colorado is about, what it is I love about the State of Colorado. Little things like spelling a word a certain way don't get in the way of 'the State' of Colorado. In 'the State' of Colorado people tend not to quibble or be argumentative about such concerns because, in part, there are other things to contemplate and pursue: A sunrise that unexplainably energizes you through an entire day. A sunset that sends you on your way to blissful dreams and provides you with the means to pursue creative endeavors unique to the State of Colorado. (Does that actually go to explain Kinetics in Boulder or Coffin Races in various mountain towns or Mule Runs?)
The more astute reader will no doubt take notice of a fact, a truth herein. I have yet to answer the question my friend, the editor, presented to me a few days ago. The best answer I can give is: I don't know. Again, that is an example of 'the State' of Colorado. You won't find hard-hitting, in-your-face, confrontational aspects in 'the State' of Colorado. 'The State' of Colorado is a master of sublime. It comes to you over time. It attracts you by way of snow-capped majestic mountain peaks in the middle of July. It appeals to you through its sheer physical scope and breadth. It holds you through the people who call it home: It welcomes you through the weathered and tanned smile of a tall and lean rancher or cowboy, the round bosom of the short-order cook perfumed with the scent of fresh bread made of homegrown wheat, the firm handshake of the self-made business owner, the genuine wave of the school crossing guard who sports battered hiking boots. It bids you in by way of the massive buffalo and cattle herds that thunder across the Eastern plains and the high-country meadows, and the mighty eagles that dance the cobalt blue skies.
And once it has offered all this and more, well, that is when you realize what I realized as I attempted to answer the question, and concluded the question moot. It doesn't matter, the specifics, of when you fell in love with Colorado. What matters is you did. What matters is you are. What matters is no matter where you go 'the State' of Colorado will always be with you.
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