Colorado Fall Leaves – Cat’s in the Cradle

The My Traveling Eye platform is designed to tell stories.  Stories of places and experiences in hopes that it will inspire others to make that extra effort to get out and experience things in life that they may not otherwise do.  While much of the stories center around photography excursions, this particular post is more about family and reflecting on a wonderful experience I had with my dad.

Last summer, Dad retired from a 50+ year career at Jet Propulsion Laboratory.  In February of this year, he turned 80 years old.  Just a few weeks prior to his birthday, his wife of over 40 years, Linda, passed away following an extended illness.  In six months, he went from non-stop busy to nearly nothing mandating his attention.  I was concerned he would have trouble adjusting to this relatively sudden change in life’s purpose and was hoping he would find something in life to get excited about.  Fortunately, after much personal introspection and soul searching, Dad found purpose. He also found a renewed desire to get outdoors and experience nature…the mountains were calling!

My parents traveled quite a bit over the years. My career in the Air Force took my family all over the country. We were always grateful when they made the time to come out and see us. They developed powerful and lasting relationships with our kids. Generally, family trips involved traveling across the country to see each other.  Outdoor activities were involved on occasion, but it was rarely the focus of the gathering.  Dad and I periodically talked about getting out and doing things in nature, but life just kept getting in the way.  We always wished we could do more together.

Dad grew up in Wyoming but had spent little time touring Colorado over the years.  He wanted to come visit Gayla and I in Colorado as well as do some hiking, sightseeing and spend some time in the mountains.  Late September is the leading edge of fall leaves changing in the mountains.  We planned his trip then to come out and visit.  Part of the trip included a road trip out to Western Colorado in hopes of getting a look at some of the spectacular fall color and scenery Colorado has to offer. 

We planned a four-day road trip across the state.  Day One – Colorado Springs to Ouray. Highway 24 through Woodland Park, west to Buena Vista then south to South Fork and followed the Silver Thread Hwy (CO 149) to Gunnison. Then west to Montrose and south to Ouray where we spent the night. 

Day Two – Million Dollar Highway. North to Ridgway then west along the Dallas Divide for sunrise pictures looking towards Mount Sneffels. We then headed back to Ouray then south along the Million Dollar Hwy (CO 550) for several miles over Red Mountain Pass.

Day Three – Montrose to Aspen. A short stop at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, then north across McClure pass. Lunch in the town of Marble then on to Aspen for a dark, star-gazing night at the Maroon Bells lake.

Day Four – Aspen to Colorado. We enjoyed a nice hike in the Maroon Bells area near Aspen then headed southeast along Highway 82 over Independence Pass and back to Colorado Springs.

While seeing these amazing places are incredible on their own, sharing them with family takes on a much greater and lasting meaning. Smelling the fresh air, hearing the soothing sounds of nature and seeing the grandeur of the world around us is not easily described with words but is unmistakable when you experience it.

The night at the Maroon Bells was a special moment for Dad and Gayla. While I was trying to capture the Milky Way in the backdrop of the Maroon Bells with photography, Dad and Gayla simply chose to savor the moment by gazing into the heavens. For one brief moment in time they felt connected with Linda, a moment they couldn’t easily describe but will never forget.

This was a trip I will never forget!

Harry Chapin released the song, “Cats in the Cradle” in the 1970s that he and Sandy Chapin wrote.  Despite our best intentions, the lyrics describe far too often the impact our busy lives have on time we spend with our family: 

A child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away

And he was talkin’ ‘fore I knew it and as he grew
He said, I’m gonna be like you, Dad
You know I’m gonna be like you

And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin’ home Dad?
I don’t know when but we’ll get together then
You know we’ll have a good time then

My son turned ten just the other day,
He said “Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let’s play
Can you teach me to throw?”, I said
“Not today, I got a lot to do”, he said, “That’s okay”

And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
He said, “I’m gonna be like him, yeah
You know I’m gonna be like him”

And the cat’s in the cradle …

He came from college just the other day
So much like a man, I just had to say
“Son I’m proud of you, can you sit for a while?”
He shook his head, and said with a smile

“What I’d really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
See ya later, can I have them please?”

And the cat’s in the cradle …

Now I’ve retired, my son’s moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, “I’d like to see you, if you don’t mind”
He said, “I’d love to, Dad, if I could find the time
My new job’s a hassle and the kids got the flu
But it’s nice talkin’ to you Dad, it’s sure nice talkin’ to you”

As I hung up the phone it occurred to me
He’d grown up just like me
My boy was just like me

And the cat’s in the cradle, and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin’ home, Son?
I don’t know when but we’ll get together then Dad
You gonna have a good time then

Enjoy these moments. My final thoughts…I’d love to, Dad, let’s do it!!