Why I love Glenwood? When I was growing up, my homelife wasn’t very pleasant. There are only 2 memories that stand out in my mind.
One, when we would go camping once a summer. And two, when we would take a trip to Glenwood. We lived in Longmont. The drive was back when I-70 was a two-lane road. We probably visited 7 or 8 times. However, one time we took the train. That was the greatest adventure of my life. I was around 6 years old and the joy was overwhelming. It’s probably one of the reasons I have such a passion for the Rocky Mountains. Such a majestic view, and back then, there wasn’t much development. Of course the tunnels excited my little girl's heart.
Years passed, I moved out of state, and life became busy. I did manage to make a few trips to Colorado, and shared Glenwood with my own children. One particular year, my parents were able to join along. The hours of kiddos jumping and laughing were magical. Fast forward. My parents both passed away within 13 months of each other. My father wanted his full military burial, but my mother told me to cremate her and spread her wherever. My brother lives in Australia and hadn't seen our parents in years. He suggested we each scatter half of her ashes. That idea didn’t land well with me so I told him he could have the honors. It was about a year later that he was back in the states and made the plan where to scatter the ashes.
He chose Glenwood Springs. It was about 7 years after that when my brother was coming back to the states. We made a plan to meet in Colorado for Christmas and go to Glenwood. At the time my son was on leave from the Marines so he joined me. My brother and his partner drove while my son and I took the train. It was one of the best Christmases I have ever had. My brother and I stood together at the place in the river where years earlier he had set our mom free. In the only place our childhood meant anything to us. And sitting in the hot springs on Christmas eve, we even had a light snow. I’m not sure how you did that for us, but it was magical.
Since then, I have been going to Colorado for Thanksgiving every year and taking a few days to ride the train to Glenwood. All of my adult children and their spouses/companions have joined at various times. I also had the overwhelming joy of bringing 2 of my 3 grandsons on the train two years in a row. Watching their glee of the train ride and enjoying the hot springs supersedes any words this GamGam heart can express. Glenwood is etched in my memories and has become part of my DNA.
A place that a once torn apart family connected briefly has now become a tether through 4 generations.
Susan L. - Rolling Hills Estates, CA