My Colorado Belonging Somewhere By Barbara Sorensen By the time I was 17 years old, I had moved eight times and had attended three elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools. When people asked me where I was from, I often returned their question with a vacant, bewildered stare. Travel weary and 21, fresh out of college, I moved with my fiancé to Colorado. We bought what some people refer to as a "fixer-upper" in Pinewood Springs and I whispered to myself that I would never move again. That was 23 years ago. My husband just built us a new house, 100 yards from the first house where we raised our two boys. We raised our sons steadfastly, in the manner that mountain living required. We braved the commute to school and work on icy roads, and endured spring's heavy snowstorms that sometimes rendered our neighborhood immobile for several days. There were endless power failures, and frequent visitations from bears, raccoons and foxes thumping blithely across our decks. At night our sons listened to surreal wails of mountain lions and the cacophony of coyote. We have been asked to evacuate because of close, swift-moving fires, and once argued with the state patrol to let us drive up our canyon at our own risk, regardless of the South St. Vrain River's flood potential. My husband and I knew where we belonged. Recently, I was surprised by an email I received from my oldest son who is studying abroad in Spain. He wrote that he wanted to live in Europe and travel forever. But later, on the phone, he said softly, "I miss Colorado, mom, and I have dreams about our house." My throat constricted, but then I felt my face flush with relief, as I realized no matter where he was, my son would always know where he was from. Do you have a special memory or humorous story about living in Colorado? EnCompass is looking for original essays that capture the uniqueness of our state. Payment is $60 upon publication. Entries must be typed, double-spaced and 200-300 words. Please include a daytime phone number. Entries will not be returned. Mail to EnCompass, Attn: My Colorado, 4100 E. Arkansas Ave., Denver, CO 80222, or e-mail: editor@colorado.aaa.com. A response to a submission may take six to eight weeks. Return to Table of Contents

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