Well, the Fourth of July holiday has come and gone. And this year proved a little different celebration than in the past.
In the extended Woodland Park community, like much of Colorado, a fire ban is in effect that prohibits just about anything that might trigger a wildfire.
And that’s a good thing, since those of us in Teller County had a pretty good scare with the Chateau fire in Florissant burning for a few days, causing evacuations and the loss of homes and other structures. Fortunately, as I write this that fire is mostly contained.
Other parts of Colorado, and throughout the West in general, are still fighting fires, or residents are keeping their fingers crossed that their community won’t be next. So while the fire bans placed a modest damper on some of the Fourth of July activities, I get the sense that few people — especially those with brains and common sense — are complaining too much.
No fireworks. No problem.
While you can’t cook outside with propane, charcoal or over an open campfire, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy a meal with friends and family.
And the restrictions are tough with zero tolerance for violators.
So tough, in fact, that you may want to consider not even farting these days near the national and state parks. Or I guess anywhere else for that matter.
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Rob Jewell
I’m Rob Jewell and I live and write in Woodland Park, Colorado, the City Above the Clouds.
I've been fortunate. I worked for 29 years at BFGoodrich in Akron, Ohio. I started editing employee publications and ended as vice president of corporate communications. Then I started a public relations consulting company before becoming a full-time faculty member in the School of Journalism at Kent State University. I taught courses in writing, public relations and mass communication ethics. And I supervised a student-run public relations firm, called Flash Communications. During my tenure at Kent State I was honored to receive the university’s Outstanding Teaching Award.
During most of this time I've been a dedicated runner. OK, jogger, if you take speed into consideration. But while my times are not much to write about, I was and am committed. For almost 30 years I ran at least 1,000 miles each year. (Except for one year when I tore my calf muscle playing tennis. So much for tennis.)
Being on the road most mornings at 5 a.m. gave me some time to think. It also led to some amazing friendships that now span more than three decades.
And my longtime love affair with running helped me shape my first novel, Then We Ran, which is available wherever electronic books are sold.
And just so you don't think that all I did was work and run, I have other interests as well, many centering on family.
My wife, Mary, was a successful and highly regarded career teacher in the Akron public schools. She now devotes her time and energy to a host of social and athletic activities in Woodland Park.
My son, Brian, teaches at Cheyenne Mountain High School in Colorado Springs where he is also the head soccer coach.
And my daughter, Jessica, has completed her doctorate at Kent State University where she is also an administrator with the Wick Poetry Center. I've done a lot of writing during my career -- but Jessica is the real writer in the family. I'll try not to make too many errors in this blog. I'm sure she'll be watching.
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Writing Above The Clouds 