It's become traditional, a Springtime visit to Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). Our early jump on Memorial Day Weekend rewarded us with wide open parking at Bear Lake, and no park entrance lines or timed entry permit requirements.  Of course we had to get up at 4:30a to arrive at the park before 7a. The absence of people was replaced with an abundance of wildlife (including deer, elk, a moose and lots of chipmunks and ground squirrels not yet eradicated or exported out of the park by RMNP ICE agents). 

Springtime visits to and above 9K feet require some awareness that poles, spikes, gloves and sunblock may be required. Trails at the Bear Lake trailhead and beyond transform from clear ground to glare ice and snow depending on sun exposer (face of the mountain, either south facing and mostly clear, or north facing and treacherous). Yet it is this diversity of terrain that makes such visits extra special. Still, we worried for the midmorning arrivals (to a filled parking lot) outfitted with street shoes and gusty gumption.

Special for us this Spring was the opportunity to take Watson into RMNP and on park trails. Normally dogs are not permitted, but Watson's more memorial form (ashes) made this possible. We let Watson stay at a Bear Lake overlook and at Nymph Lake not too far from where this photo was taken.  He would have loved this beautiful spot where the wild life/woodland creatures abound. 

Five years ago George Floyd died and the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement was born out of sadness, compassion and hate. Now, looking back it is discouraging that in many ways hate dominated and became an excuse more for racism and victimhood, then for kindness, love and respect. Though the intentions of many in this movement were honorable, the legacy of late has been dishonored. BLM is currently synonymous with riots, looting, destruction, and a cruel accusation that most policemen are evil. The true racism of the slogan has become apparent. Inclusive alternatives like "all lives matter" were lambasted by the heroes of inclusion like someone had challenged Biden's mental competency. Derek Chauvin should be in jail, but George's death was also self inflicted. George was more a victim than hero. Many honorable and dedicated policemen were unfairly victimized by BLM, and this, five years later, has further victimized the lives of Black Americans. 

Who would have thought a legal ID would be required to purchase non-alcoholic beer (NAB) in Colorado.  A favored brand was recently on sale at a grocery store.  So a spontaneous selection was made. However, at checkout and while busy bagging groceries, it seemed time had stopped. The young clerk had in fact stopped scanning items and was impatiently staring with the pack of NAB in hand. Her expression inferred a grievous violation of checkout protocol. The response could have been, "Lutherans take forever to figure something out." Instead I queried "what's up?" She said, "where's your ID?" To which I responded "I'm of legitimate geezer status AND you're holding NAB." She said, it doesn't matter, all beer, regardless of alcohol content requires an ID. When later relating this experience to a family member, they couldn't believe I didn't know of this regulation. Well, I'm probably behind on a lot of things, but in my defense I live in a state that doesn't require a photo ID to vote. Given marijuana or mushroom psychedelics are readily available in city parks and playgrounds, requiring an ID for NAB seems pretentious, if not downright racist against minority NAB consumers.