January 5, 2009
Location: Denver, Colorado

Mid-December I decided to head up to Denver to spend the holidays with Liz and my large group of dear friends whom I now consider family. It seems I'm either on or off with regards to these updates, and given the eating, drinking, sleeping throughout the holidays it's been far too lax.

But I'm trying to catch up here and bring you all up to date. The holidays were pretty uneventful for the most part. Mostly just hung out with Liz trying to enjoy every moment of our time together. Sleeping late, watching movies, and spending time with the Denver homies. It's amazing how quickly we can become entrenched in a place. I love my Denver crew and everything that comes with them... The good, the bad, and the ugly... although they are rarely ugly ;-) So yeah, you fall in love with people and you fall in love with a place and while this is beautiful it makes the road that much more difficult. It's that same feeling from the Piikani Reservation.. that feeling of never wanting to leave, that feeling of being home. But all the while my heart still remains restless and searching. There were a few times when I told Liz o how torn I felt between the road and Denver, of how I often feel as though I'm living two lives, or rather how my heart is in two places at once. This is a very difficult place to be both for me and for the people that love me.. but we all choose to trudge on and enjoy what IS for all that it has to offer us. We don't have any clue where any of this is going all we know is that we are enjoying every minute of it.

I also think it's a matter of perspective. We can dwell on the hardships of life or buck up and perceive the cup as truly half-full. And once we get a handle on the half-full cup, in my opinion it's only a matter of time before it begins to overflow with joy.

What was I going to add...? I forget... I'll end with gratitude. I'm so grateful for Liz and everything she's teaching me. And I'm grateful to Jeff and Kat for their friendship and seemingly endless patience and acceptance of everyone around them, I think they truly realize what it is to be human in an imperfect world. I'm grateful to Sergio for his ability to walk his own truth despite all the forces that test his strength. I'm grateful to Francisco for always smiling and being there for his friends and family, be it day or night. I'm grateful to Frank for being Frank and honoring the child within in a world that insists we grow up. I'm grateful to Steve and Karen for their wisdom and ability to listen and provide guidance to those willing to listen, and the balance they demonstrate as a couple. I'm grateful to Mishawaka for being another brother from another mother. I'm grateful to Julia and all the other new people I continue to meet for adding a little more zest to the Denver soup.

peace,d