This is the time of year when people are so busy getting ready for all of the holidays. There’s hustle and bustle everywhere…the lights, the presents, the Christmas tree, the Menorah, holidays parties, and holiday shopping. Thanksgiving has past and the turkey and all of its leftovers are gone. But it’s the time of year when we should stop and think about what’s really important in our lives.
 
I (Mel) woke up on Thanksgiving morning and began my day thinking about all of the things that I am truly thankful for…my family and friends, my co-workers, our beautiful home in Estes Park…and then I started to think about Estes Park and what a special place we picked to live.
 
Estes Park is more than we had ever imagined it to be. We have been truly welcomed with open arms. We have made so many friends in our 7 months here. Sometimes we kid each other and say that we have more friends here than we ever had at our former “home” back in Connecticut where we both grew up and lived for more than 50 years. It has been fun meeting so many different people out here. We have a very special “neighborhood” full of wonderful people who just love to do things together whether it is a hike, a dinner out or just a friendly email. We constantly keep in touch. Our “library” friends have given us the opportunity to do something both interesting and educational for the people and tourists of Estes Park through our “Outdoor Eyes” programs. The Estes Park Museum has wonderful functions throughout the year. We have attended many of these and marveled at them all…especially the Tribute to John Denver concert. We have thoroughly enjoyed the RMNP Visitor centers and all that they offer. They have some really great programs and presentations. The RMNA has given us the opportunity to lead some hikes and thus teach others what we have learned. Every time we bump into Judie from the Estes Park Bird Club, she shows where a bird is that she has just seen or a new nest that’s she’s discovered. We have had a special bond with Gary and Kris of the Estes Park News. How fortunate we are to have met them. They are certainly dedicated people. And boy, was I surprised when I opened the newspaper and they had wished Philip a “Happy Birthday”… and I didn’t even have to remember to insert it in the newspaper!
 
The people of Estes Park truly care about one another. When we walk down the street or go into a store, the people take the time to say hi and ask about us. Even the people who own the stores will stop and talk with us. Cal and Holly from the Mad Moose and David from Mountain Time have been so friendly and so helpful... and there are too many other retailers to mention in our article. They have made us feel so welcome to the town. We have met so many wonderful people out on the hiking trails in the park or just walking around Estes Lake. People stop and talk and are truly interested and interesting. Our Outdoor Eyes Meetup Group has also been a wonderful way for us to meet new people. We have had many hikes since last June and the response has been tremendous! It’s almost like we have created our own little “family” to hike with….there are many people who return week after week just for the camaraderie. (And also learn from Philip’s photography skills!) We are even celebrating Philip’s birthday party a week later with a lunch at Ed’s Cantina with about 35 people.
 
So I thought this would be a perfect time for us to give thanks to everyone in Estes Park who has helped make us feel so welcome. We feel so fortunate to have found this place and the wonderful people who live here. For us, it is the perfect place to make our home. Estes Park is truly a magical place in every respect. All you have to do is look around. As Brad and Kathy say, “We live in paradise.”