Dear Joanie,
It's true that here in Boulder, Colorado all is quiet on a sunny, warm day in Boulder, Colorado. I'm sitting at a table that your Grandmother Coco sent me, and I'm looking out the window from our sixth floor apartment. I can see the mountains and the plains and the Carillon gardens below. The leaves are mostly gone from the trees, but the few that remain range from bright orange to pale yellow. The grass is still green, and some zinnias and sunflowers are holding on as well. I have the window open beside this table because there is a soft cool breeze coming in. The sky is a deep Colorado blue. As I look down at our gardens, I see a couple, elderly of course, like Dougie and me, sitting on a bench within a circular path--actually a circle within a circle. It's one of those places where a golden-leaved tree stands tall, such as the ones I just mentioned.
We have had no snow. There is no snow in the forecast. It's hard to know what the ski areas here have in mind. Thanksgiving, only two weeks away, is usually the time the slopes open, to great celebration and people posting pictures with their skis and snappy outfits. Of course, all the ski areas started making artificial snow decades ago, and I'm sure that technology has improved. But imagine, artificial snow, which is usually used as a stop-gap measure until the next storm moves in, will probably be more than that this year. But we'll see. I'll keep you updated. When we have dry spells like this, sooner or later (and right now that will be later) we'll hear a forecast for a foot or so, and snow shovels, and windshield scrapers will sell out, and people will have to wait in line to get snow tires put on their cars.
In the last letter, I mentioned shortages due to the supply chain, especially as shortage of truck drivers. Here is a picture of my search for the Vitamin C I like to take. Taken at the Boulder Target store.
But things are not so dire. Seeduction bread is back at the bakery at Whole Foods, and if I time it just right, I can find the freshly ground peanut butter, too. I think we might be getting used to empty shelves, though.
On the international scene, 200 countries just wound up a week-long meeting in Glasgow, Scotland, to try to come to an agreement of some kind to slow the human-caused global warming. The United States and China are at the very top of the list of countries contributing to global warming and climate change. Every time I read about this crisis--and that's the correct word for it--I think of you and your parents and what the world will be like as you're growing up. I'll tell you more about the agreement when I read up on it. It was just approved today.
As usual, Dougie and I are getting a real kick out of watching the videos and pictures that your parents post. You are running all over the place now, seldom looking back. I bring those pictures up on our large TV screen and we play them over and over again. We are delighted.
Shelby Poodle and I manage to walk at least three miles, usually every day. I also go to a weight lifting class here at the Carillon. And right now, I'm going to take her for a walk around our building and along Boulder Creek before we settle in for dinner and a quiet evening.
Sending you love,
GG Katie
P.S. I know at some point I need to tell you more about my family. It's a complicated story, but I'll start thinking about it.
PPS: We are all still wearing masks indoors and Colorado has a real uptick in cases, so much so that the hospitals are reaching capacity in ICUs. Dougie and I have had our booster shot and our flu shot.
