Dear Colorado,

I know it has been just a short while in the grand scheme of things (1 Year almost to the day) but there is something you just have to know.

I am madly, head-over-heals in love with you.

I always suspected the John Denver song Rocky Mountain High had more to do with something nefarious than it did with cold mountain air. I was wrong. You have absolutely infected me and I could not be happier about it.

Every day, I wake up and go outside. I don't care how cold it is, it is the first thing I want to do in the morning. I then go about my day. At some point over the course of my day, I will see the mountains. Every day. Truly awesome. Whenever I see those mountains I can't help but think "I live here" usually followed by an occasionally audible cackle of glee.

You have an effect on me that no other place I've ever lived has had on me. I am happy. Now, I've lived in a lot of places other than just you Colorado. I've moved a lot. Just for the folks at home keeping score (also read: my mother-in-law who will probably put this list in a scrapbook page some day) let's recap shall we?

• 1977: born in Chattanooga, TN
• 1978ish: moved as infant with family to Atlanta, GA
• 1985ish: returned to Chattanooga, TN with mom when my parents divorced
• 1991: another move to Atlanta, GA this time by myself on account of the fact that I was a general prick and more of a problem than my mother could handle, so off to my dad's place I went.
• 1994: Things got a little out of hand in Atlanta, so everyone decided it would be a wonderful idea for all parties involved if I go to live with my mother again, who had recently relocated to Stillwater, OK. Seriously.
  
• 1999: my dad offered me a job and I moved back to Atlanta, GA.
• 2000: the job did not work out so great. Hence, returned to Stillwater, OK.
• 2000: 1. Got married. 2. Moved to Dallas, TX. One of these things I'm glad I did.
• 2010: finally made it to Denver, CO

Now, as you can see, I've been around. I'm not afraid to say "This place sucks. I hate it here." and then simply make the choice to stop being in the place that I hate. But you took me aback. That's right. Aback.

Everywhere else I've lived before I've always had the sense of just living there until something else happened that would prompt me to pack up and move. Here. I hope that day never comes. I am so sublimely happy that as I sit here in my apartment with all the windows open letting the breeze come sweeping across my back while I'm typing this, I can't even find proper words to describe it. Bliss maybe?

I am home.

Let's be Best Friends Colorado!