The Colorado State Open Thread is published most Mondays around 7PM Mountain time. It’s for people interested in, living in, sheltering-in-place-in, or otherwise perhaps even just having an interest in our Centennial state. Please stop in and share whatever is on your mind.
Today is the annual day shared between Mother Nature in the guise of Earth Day (though I’d like to think I celebrate Earth Day most days of the year) and the date when many people in our state and around the country celebrate the funky herb that is known by several names such as Marijuana, Cannabis, Demon-weed, skunk-weed (I have no idea why people say it smells like skunks).
Personally, Earth Day means much more to me than anything to do with MJ. I am somewhere between agnostic and atheist (while I’d love for there to be spiritual divinity and something waiting as an afterlife, I just cannot get myself to believe in it) and my most spiritual moments have come in areas of natural majesty, like in some of our national parks and in times when I’ve been able to sit and contemplate in natural settings even in my own yard, watching animals, plants, natural processes (wind, snow, rain, sunshine, stars) living their lives and simply being. I’m fortunate at this stage of life that I am in a place that is very strong in the natural environment, living as we do on the boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park and just outside of Estes Park.
I haven’t been one of the aggressive outdoorsmen over the years — speed outside has never interested me so I’ve only been mountain biking once, only been cross country skiing twice, never been a downhiller and when I’m outside, I’m much more likely to go at a leisurely pace, frequently stopping to examine vistas, flowers, look for birds, take pictures and just enjoy the place and time. I’m much more likely to take longer than the projected time for a trail than beat the trail time. I have no desire to run on natural trails or barrel down a mountain on a bike. I’d be more likely to take a canoe rather than a raft on a river and make it a smooth river rather than one with class V rapids (though I did do the Poudre one spring when it was at its wild and scenic best). I’d be interested to hear how you enjoy nature and how you may celebrate Earth Day.
As for 4/20 for the Pot heads (said with all respect), I’ll state that I’ve never had so much as a puff of anything smoky like tobacco, marijuana or other things designed to be drawn into the lungs. I grew up in a non-smoking house and the thought of coating my lungs with tar just turned me off thoroughly. I do enjoy the smell of a good campfire and BBQ, but that’s about it. I have partaken in “edibles” a couple of times — once it affected me and the second (and third?) time it didn’t have any noticeable effect. I did sign the initiative to get the Marijuana on the ballot and I voted for it, but I really haven’t made use of it. I also don’t do other drugs, other than occasional alcohol. Just high on life and mother nature, I guess.
Well, those are my musings on this celebrated day. What musings are floating around in your head? Please share them down below. The floor is yours.