Photo Courtesy CDOT and the Aspen Times
The other day Brevitt mentioned that something was trying to tell us that we should not be going to Beaver Creek for my writing gig.
He couldn’t have been more right, sometimes you have no choice but to take a step back and listen to the signs. If it wasn’t my back spasms holding us back one weekend, than it was a 66 ton boulder, the size of a semi truck, that came crashing down onto Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon, closing the highway the next weekend.
This is not an uncommon occurrence for large boulders to roll down unexpectedly onto unsuspecting cars, wiping out entire families or, even worse, leaving one or two family members behind to repeatedly re-live the dreadful fate of their loved ones.
Allison Daily wrote the book, Out of the Canyon: A True Story of Loss and Love, that tells the story of the connection between she and her husband who lost his previous wife and two sons in Glenwood Canyon when a large boulder dislodged from the canyon wall, striking the car.
There was also the tragic accident that occurred last August where a visiting family was departing Aspen on the last day of their vacation and encountered a rock in Snowmass Canyon, a canyon that I drive through twice daily. The rock, the size of carry-on luggage, fell through the window of their Chevrolet Tahoe, instantly killing the father, a Sprint Nextel Executive.
The mother somehow managed to gain control of the car and guide it to safety, saving the lives of she and her three boys with one hand on the brakes and the other on the steering wheel.
As stated in the Denver Post, falling boulders pose risks to motorists at hundreds of locations across the state. Since the 1980’s, more than a dozen people have been killed in Colorado by rocks that tumbled onto their vehicles.
And yet, we continue to drive Interstate 70 because there is life outside of Aspen, and we have made the decision that we cannot live our lives in fear.
Miraculously, the most recent boulder fell close to midnight and did not take any lives, but as the stories seep in of friends and family who escaped near disaster by driving home before the slide took place, I try my best to not create the “what if” scenarios and take this as yet another reminder to listen to James Taylor’s words and love and appreciate life as fiercely as I can and “shower the people I love with love and show them the way that I feel.”
Jillian: Bravo on your blog, while busily raising those boys and gorgeous
papa Wade. Yes, the Glenwood Canyon disaster, and my fondness for
Art, and my dear old friend, Kathy and family. And now the “angel” Allison
and their boys, have made such a sparkling addition. Speaking of angels
it would be great to make a note about our “Valley Angels”-PATHFINDERS
The Organization that the Daily’s and her tribe make such contributions.
We are always looking for volunters and small contributions of little gifts and/or food for our deliveries we make for people that need deliveries
to thier home as they are recovering and/or struggling with serious
health issues. Your friend, DeDe
Jilly: Super mom, blogging, raising children, always positive, and more than that, a delightful person. How about Allison Daily and her Valley Angels!
We deliver meals and gifts to health challenged people in the valley. I think so often of the CANYON as Arts other family were old friends. Now we have
Allison and her special contribution to all our lives along with their super
special boys. Let me know if you can put the word out for volunteers for
PATHFINDERS/VALLEY ANGELS, food or small gifts for our “cheery baskets”
BRAVO – Livingston family, one and all. Your friend DeDe
Hi Jillian! Wow – I guess we all fall prey to taking things for granted. What a wake-up call! There is just so much we can do to the natural world without some consequences, the natural ones.
hugs
suZen
Wow, that is so scary. My brother and his family live in Colorado. It’s not something he’s ever mentioned before, but I’ll have to ask him about it. I think sometimes we need these little wake up calls to remind us not to take anything for granted.
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Operation: Ultimate Meme Participation =-.
hi jillian! We heard about the huge rock fall up there. Every Spring we come home from wolf creek eyeing the boulders percced along the pass, wondering when they may break loose.It is scary, but like you folks we can’t be trapped by our fears. My thoughts are when you mess with mother nature,you better watch out!! Hope all is wellwith you and family and friends. Buck
Hi Jillian.
My first reaction was WOW and yes you can both ways with disasters like this.
We have a choice as you say; we can become fearful and anxious and never do anything. Or we can send a loving thought to the people who were affected and get on with living by being in-integrity and living to the full, knowing we too will not live forever.
We can see these things as scary omens or as others here have said as an encouragement.
I know which one I rather choose and I think you are choosing the same. Good on us. xox Wilma
.-= Wilma Ham´s last blog ..Integrity, accountability, what is NOT going on? =-.
I am a Colorado native who has been transported (in the winters) to Minnesota. We come back to Colorado every summer, and trips up and down I-70 are just what we do. My mom had told me about these recently fallen boulders, and I remember as a kid driving in the canyons looking up at the boulders and just praying that they stayed perilously hanging where they were. It is a stark reminder that we are just visitors on those massive mountains. Glorious and terrifying all at once.
.-= Meagan´s last blog ..Can women be both creative and competitive? =-.
Oh my goodness, Jill. This is really well written – I cannot imagine how that family felt watching their father/husband get pummeled by a boulder…and living to tell about it. An amazing feat on part of the mother.
Be safe!
Swati
.-= Swati Bharteey´s last blog ..The Relationship – Chapter 3 (a very short story) =-.
So scary! I am glad that you’re fine and that you listened; it really pays to listen
.-= jing lejano´s last blog ..Slow Sunday =-.
Jillian,
It is terrifying to think that at any moment, a boulder could fall out of the mountains, onto your car. Driving in Colorado is like playing Russian Roulet. Why can’t something be done about this matter, like put nets up over the highways. Ha. I guess there is not much that can be done.
Will you please buy a boulder proof car (maybe that is what I should invent!!!)
Maybe all roads should be made into tunnels.
Don’t drive, don’t leave Aspen. Stay safe
Love you
Melanie
Really well written post, and terrifying… and yet we take these kinds of risks every day, no matter what we do – I know there are times when I get the urge to lock my boys in the house, because there are so many potential things that could happen to them outside, and I want to protect them… but we have to live life, otherwise there’s no point. Live and love. Well said.
Peryl
.-= Parenting ad absurdum´s last blog ..How I was totally judgmental before I had kids =-.
Jillian, that is so frightening! I love the quote to “love and appreciate life fiercely.” Life is such a gift to us no matter what. I wish sometimes people could remember that and stop fighting over little things that mean nothing in the end. Thank you for reminding us of that and be safe.
.-= Vivianne´s last blog ..Coming to Terms =-.
Very interesting but Daunting Jillian, I must say I admire your courage and manner of thinking ……….“love and appreciate life as fiercely as I can and “shower the people I love with love and show them the way that I feel.”
Take Care
.-= Fatima Da ´s last blog ..Negative Thoughts Evacuation =-.
Hello Fatima,
Yes, sometimes I am very overwhelmed by the dangers out there and can be found frozen with fear and yet life does not offer that luxury of staying frozen for long. We must move on and learn the lessons.
Hello Vivianne,
You are right about life being a gift but sometimes we do need these little reminders.
My Mawack is back! You too, don’t drive, stay safe and come live near me where I can protect you better, except for from falling rocks.
Hi Jing, it does doesn’t it? Even if it means losing a coveted job.
Hello Swati,
I also cannot stop conjuring up images in my head of what really happened out there in the car and it is haunting me. That is why I had to write about it.
Hi Megan,
As we drive I watch my children staring up at all of the magnificent rocks and I know that they are feeling the same way as you described.
Hello Wilma,
Human beings are amazing creatures!
Hi Buck,
I agree with your philosophy. We must always respect nature!
Hi Heather,
I agree that we need these wake up calls but not at the expense of others.
Hi SuZen, I sooo agree!
Hello Dede!
I love when you visit and give me great ideas for posts. Sign me up!
Wow, Jillian, I had no idea that big rocks were big trouble on I-70. What a fascinating thing, like nature will have her way (which is not to say it isn’t scary to drive on and incredibly sad when a boulder takes a life). And I loved how you ended with James Taylor’s song. Perfect.
.-= Patty – Why Not Start Now?´s last blog ..Meaning Mondays: A Gathering of Men Edition =-.
[...] take my children there. The trip was originally planned for the winter but was canceled due to the boulder that fell in Glenwood Canyon and so we went a few weekends ago instead, on Wade and my 12th [...]