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Rocky Mountain High
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Yesterday, I left stormy skies and flooded roads in metro Philadelphia to fly to Grand Junction, Colo., where tonight I will appear at the One Book One Mesa County event sponsored by the Mesa County Public Library system. By the time I got to my hotel last night, it was dark and from my window at the Doubletree all I could see was inky blackness.
This morning I arose early to get some writing done. I made coffee, sat down at the desk and opened my laptop. I was working away when I noticed rosy sunlight spilling through the crack in the curtains. I pulled the curtains back and -- oh Lord, holy cow -- what a view! Stretching before me from horizon to horizon was one of the most spectacular mountain views I have seen in a long, long time. My room faces west and looks across about a mile of flat high prairie before the buttes and mesas and red cliffs rise abruptly out of the flatness. The morning sun bathed the soaring, snow-capped stone in golden, pink light. Wow. It felt like I had been transported in my sleep into an Ansel Adams photo.
I like to tell people I live in the mountains of Pennsylvania. And indeed, I live in the piedmont of the Poconos. But they are mere speed bumps compared to what rises outside my hotel room here. As Crocodile Dundee might say, "Those aren't mountains, mate. THESE are mountains." From now on, I guess I'm going to have to put quote marks around the "mountains" of eastern Pennsylvania.
Now I need to run. Today is going to be a full one here in Grand Junction. I'm doing a book signing from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by lunch with the good folks who made this visit happen. Tonight, I speak at 7 p.m., followed by Q&A and another signing.
I had to smile last night when I picked up the Grand Junction Free Press and saw Gracie the Lab and I staring out from the top of the front page. Grand Junction knows how to make an author feel welcome.
Now, if only I could find a couple hours for a hike in those amazing mountains.... Maybe next visit.
John
posted by John Grogan at 7:19 AM
 
2 Comments:
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I am a western slope native and attended your signing this morning, "Debra, Cherokee and Cyrus", what an honor. If you think the mountains around Grand Junction are "Holy Cow" go south to the San Juans, now those are mountains. I grew up seeing those every morning. Please enjoy your visit to our home.
Hello!My name is Xana, i'm from Viana do Castelo a beautiful city from Portugal!!I'm taking a journalism degree, and i'm currently on its forth (and last yar),and i adore.I read your book and i love it, i cry and laught.Have a Marley waiting for us everyday must be nice even with the nonsenses. I don't know if one day it wolud be possibel gave personally the congratulation...But let me congratulate you for the magic that your book give!a great year 2007