Lunch At The Bella Vista

It had been many years since I was in the Bella Vista restaurant in Denver, Colorado. The last time was

when I worked for the Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Denver and after work a group went to the Bella Vista. I don't know what we were celebrating though I do remember loud music, a table full of empty glasses, and me dancing a Corrido with the chubby owner. Today I found out that the restaurant is under new management and my dancing partner is long gone!

I met a friend from my past and we remembered how the office used to be, the people we got along with and those we didn't, what changes had happened since I left, who had died and who still worked, who was retiring and who had retired and so on.

A moment of sadness when she told me she had lost her thirty-six year old daughter and how her grandson was having a hard time coping with the tragedy. She said, "It's been two years and I still have my moments. You never get over losing a child."  She told me how she had completed her schooling and got a paralegal degree. I have a deep admiration for people who continue their education!

We recalled when we went to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta and how lucky we were to stay with a good friend of hers. Another paralegal by the name of Honey and I drove together and when we were looking at Indian jewelry, I yelled across the room, "Hey, Honey, come look at this piece!" It seemed as if everyone in the shop turned to look at me. I was pretty sure I knew what everybody was thinking. I made up my mind that I would call her Ms. Roberts and not Honey if I needed to get her attention!


Another friend from my past walked in to the Bella Vista. Talk about old home week as we hugged. She said those words I love to hear. "My goodness, you look great, you haven't changed at all." Now, either I looked like an old lady back then or maybe, just maybe, I hadn't changed. Maybe she could not see my wrinkles and that was fine with me! It was nice seeing two persons from my past. I did what I do best and pulled out my camera and had our pictures taken.

Time has a way of speeding as we live our lives, but the older I get the faster time seems to go.  Today was a pleasant day seeing two friends of long ago and catching up with new and old news.

A Tree of Many Colors

Have you ever seen a tree draped in a crocheted cover? I happened to be around 20th and Broadway in downtown Denver and I saw a tree in many different colors. From where I stood, I could not tell if the cover had been painted or if it had been knitted or crocheted. I walked closer and to my surprise someone had covered the trunk of the tree with colorful yarn squares.

I had never seen such art work and when I got home I looked up, "Yarn covered trees."  Wikipedia mentions that "the practice began in Texas when knitters needed a creative use for left over yarn and now the practice of covering trees is world wide. "

An artist in Seattle, Washington got tired of looking at grey-brown trees and decided to cover them with knit/crochet squares. There is a book written by Mandy Moore and Leanne Prain called Yarn Bombing: The Art of Crochet and Knit Graffiti. I also found pictures of the trees in Pinterest and in Blogs.

The art form is know as Guerrilla Art or Yarn Bombing. Some of the images on the Internet show parking meters, small cars, buses, and fire hydrants wrapped in the colorful knits.  Look at  lauriejess.blogspot.com for other Yarn Bombing pictures. I have borrowed two from her blog for my blog.


Okay, so my Denver tree was not an original but for me it was for I had never seen such beautiful  tree art.

A Garden of Stone

A cemetery is composed of grass and stone. The garden of stone can stretch out forever. Each block of stone has a name etched into it. Some stones are elaborate while others are simple. Usually it takes a few attempts to find the special grave that one is trying to find. Every time one visits the garden of stone, it seems as if there are fresh areas, recently dug up. A dry patch of grass is a tell tale sign that a new grave has been added. Some of the stones have flowers. Some flowers are faded while others, more recently placed on a loved one's grave, are vibrant with color. The monuments are in formation, all lined up, row after row.

Yesterday, I took artificial flowers to my Mother's grave. Sunday had been Mother's Day but it snowed and I was unable to take the flowers. Yesterday it had warmed up and a perfect day to place a wreath of  deep pink flowers in front of the grey tombstone. Both my Mother and Father are buried at Mt. Olivet.
My younger brother also lies next to them. I took him a flower too. I have two aunts, my Mother's sisters, that I like to place flowers on their flat grave marker.

 The cemetery was deserted except for another man and myself. I suppose many will come out for Memorial Day, the official day to visit the garden of stone. The man brought a folding chair and was sitting next to a tombstone. I could see he was reading from a book as he spent time next to someone he loved. What devotion, I thought.

Other thoughts: Mom and Dad, I miss you; brother, you lived such a short life; and my Mother would have been happy that I visited her sisters. I picture them all in heaven, content that they are with God.

Life continues for many, while others, having lived their lives, now live in the garden of stone.

"The cemetery is an open space among ruins, covered in

winter with violets and daisys. It might make one in love 

with death, to think that one should be buried in so sweet a place."

Percy Bysshe Shelley

August Must Have Been A Popular Month

It seems that there are more babies born in May than any other month. Maybe it seems that way because I know so many persons celebrating a birthday in May. The ones that come to mind are Ed, Eric, Brenna,  Felipe, Justin, Dottie, Louise, Susan and me. In the Young At Heart group there are 36 May birthdays.

I tried to figure out what was happening in August that made people more amorous and can only surmise that summer was coming to an end and September would bring new beginnings!

To my friends born in May and to those I don't know but have a May birthday, I wish you a very Happy Birthday in this glorious month of May!

From Girl to Young Lady

 "The future belongs to those

who believe in the beauty of

their dreams."

Eleanor Roosevelt

Tonight I received a picture of my granddaughter all dressed up and going to her high school prom. This is a girl who lives in shorts and t-shirts.  I could not stop looking at the picture. Up until now, I saw her as a little girl even though she drives, has her own ideas, and enjoys fixing her own vegan meals. After seeing the picture, I realized that she is almost an adult and I have got to switch gears and treat her more like a young lady and not as a child.

The Internet let me know that an eighteen year old can vote, buy a house, get married without parent's permission, serve on jury duty, pay taxes if employed, join the military
and is considered an adult.


It is so strange to see that transformation. I have seen her personality coming out little by little and after looking at the picture, I do believe she is now a young lady heading toward her future! The shock is that I did not see it coming. I suppose I thought she would be a young child forever and now I know this is not true because every year there are subtle changes making her into a beautiful young lady.

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow,

learn as if you were to live forever."

Mahatma Gandi

And Then They Grew Up

I met two little girls about ten years ago. They belong to a friend of mine and they just happened to be the same age as my granddaughters who live in California. The girls spoke very little English and when my
granddaughters met them my granddaughters did not speak Spanish and the four girls communicated with sign language and few words.

One year I attended Bryant Webster Fund Raiser at North High School. I went because my friend invited me to come see her girls perform. I thought I was going to a school show where the children sing out of tune and it would be a typical children's program. Oh, how wrong I was! One child played the guitar and sang while the older one played a violin and both were in a Mariachi band. The whole band and singers sounded professional. How could these kids who never played an instrument become so proficient in a few years, I wondered.


Years went by and the last time I heard the girls play they sounded great and usually at parties they will entertain the guests with their playing and singing. The girls have changed into beautiful young ladies and speak fluent English and Spanish. What an honor to have seen the two girls grow up to be kind, generous, helpful and talented. I give a lot of credit to their mother who had them in different programs as they grew up which included music and squash. At Holy Family High School both girls played soccer. I knew that the girls traveled to Mexico, Washington D.C. and Europe and probably other places that I may not know about. I like that they are religious and have a strong sense of faith.

Tonight I planned to attend the 13th Annual Juvenile Mariachi Group of Bryant Webster school and listen to terrific music by a professional group (Sol de mi Tierra) and the young children. I was disappointed I was unable to go to the extravaganza.

The two girls now help with the new members of the group. Congratulations to the devoted teachers who saw a need to continue the tradition of Mexican music and continue to inspire many young children to play and sing in the Mariachi group.

Two Friends and a Glass of Wine

I met two friends in downtown Arvada for the Ladies Only Sample Tour. An event bracelet could be purchased to receive samples and goodies from various stores in Olde Town Arvada. We opted not to buy the bracelet but walked around looking into the different shops. My favorite was the Book Cranny with lots of books and silver and turquoise jewelry. There was an olive oil store, a candy store, a spice store, a pottery place, eating places, a bakery and a new place that will soon open called the Bluegrass Cupcake and Bourbon. I was given a small cupcake made with bourbon and I liked the combination of alcohol and chocolate.


We wandered to the Arvada Elks Club where memories flooded my brain. I remembered many nights dancing to different bands at the Elks Club. Entering the hall, nothing had changed from the many years I had been there; it looked exactly the same! The difference was that back when I went to the Elks it was crowded. Today the place seemed deserted. Eight persons sat at the bar and the place seemed to be in need of customers. Drinks were purchased and even though I do not care for alcoholic beverages (maybe a Margarita now and then) I drank a glass of Merlot for
health reasons because I am told that a red wine is good for my heart! We sat and talked about past, current and future events until the music got cranked up and we were competing with the loud music.

Women carrying shopping bags full of goodies passed by and I saw a friend from my church with her bag full of gifts. I almost bought a skirt for my granddaughter for $5.00 but when I saw it wasn't hemmed, I decided not to buy it.


On my drive home, I felt as if I was blushing and my face seemed hot. When I touched my face it was cool. I could feel a heat coming from inside me and feeling very relaxed. I thought a nap would be nice. I looked in the mirror thinking my face was glowing red. It wasn't. I  knew it had to be the alcohol.  Whatever I was feeling was within me and it surprised me that a glass of wine could effect me in such a manner!

I enjoyed the afternoon, seeing friends I had not seen for a long time and seeing what Olde Town Arvada had to offer!