Spring Time in the Rockies

Originally Published Dec. 2012                                                          

One of my best friends, Judy Nielsen, and I were 19….. just a couple of months’ away from 20 and we had each earned two-weeks’ vacation from our respective companies, St. Paul Insurance Companies and 3M.  In those days, one had to work one year before you earned a day of vacation.  So, you could imagine how anxious we were to take one!

Judy had seen a brochure entitled, “Spring Time in the Rockies” and thought this was an adventure for the two of us.  We both had never been on a vacation before that didn’t involve our parents and at age 19 (almost 20), we thought it best that we start living a little.

Spring Time in the Rockies was actually a train trip from St. Paul to Denver.  Then, we were to take a tour bus to Pike’s Peak and other highlights such as ski resorts and college towns.  We would be gone a week.  We thought this was the perfect trip for us since we had never been on a train before, we would be “on our own” and we would still have another week of vacation to use throughout the year.

Back in those days, 1964, women (young and old) still wore dresses every day (I believe my mom called them housedresses).  And 3M certainly had a fancy dress code…. I wore 3” heels every day, along with a dressy suit or dress and, of course, gloves…. And most of the time, a hat!

So, now you can picture Judy and Mary getting on the train in our navy blue suits, high heels, white gloves, and while I don’t remember what kind of a hat we wore, I’m sure we wore one.

Anyway, we both were quite shy and I don’t actually remember making any new friendships on this trip.  We met quite a few senior couples and a few people in their 40’s or 50’s.  So, we were definitely the youngest on the trip. And, therefore, well chaperoned!  So much for a springtime adventure without our parents!

The train ride was really fun, however.  While it was a long ride that meant sleeping overnight in our seats (no sleeping bed for these two young gals on a secretary’s salary), we did spend most of our time in the upper deck so we could see the beautiful scenery.  I do have to admit, though, that there really wasn’t any beautiful scenery until we got to Colorado.  Let’s just say that Nebraska is not known for anything but…. Well, I really don’t know what Nebraska is known for.

Waking up to a view of the mountains was absolutely the best part of the trip.  I had never seen a mountain before and to see one with snow was even better.  I fell in love with Colorado and truthfully, did not want to leave.  The tour bus had taken us on a campus tour of the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs.  I spent the entire trip home talking about going to college in Colorado.  I had dropped out of the College of St. Scholastica three weeks before I was to start my freshman year – for various reasons I won’t go into now.  But, after visiting the University of Colorado campus, I was ready to leave my job, my family, and my friends behind to learn how to ski, travel, and oh yes, get an education.

But then….. three weeks after returning back to normal life, I started dating Norm.  And Judy continued to date her boyfriend, Danny.  Judy and I didn’t take any more trips together because a little over a year later, Norm and I were married with Judy and Danny following us three weeks’ later.

I finally returned to Colorado in 2009 – to celebrate my nephew’s wedding in Vail.  The snowy mountains were still there.  Still magnificent.  And still calling me to stay awhile.  Norm and I have talked about taking the Amtrak to various places for a vacation.  Yes, I think it’s time to think about another trip next spring ….to the Rockies.