Surprises In Places You Think You Know
Colorado never felt like home to me. It just never felt right. It's a bit like these pair of black flats I just bought from Target last month - I have been trying and trying to make them work, but they are giving me blisters and don't look quiet right on my feet. It's not meant to be. I tried to make Colorado work for years and years. I moved there in 1993 at the age of five, right before kindergarten. I even took an internship in 2008 in Breckenridge, Colorado as a young adult. I really did give it a go.
I was so relieved when I moved to San Francisco in 2006. It just felt right. But as I got to know people in my new city, more and more of my new friend group were ironically from Colorado. People I never knew till I moved to San Francisco, even though we lived near each other or went to neighboring schools. Many of them became not just my friends, but family. That's what took me to Colorado this weekend.
James and I met on the first day of classes - in our Acting I class. It wasn't long before the class sign in sheet was passed around and we bonded over our 303/720 phone numbers. We also bonded over our love of high production theater and baroque art, our strong work ethic and our endless day-dreaming about being fabulous elderly people in the future. It also helps that James has an energy and aura that is immediately endearing. I have felt incredibly lucky to have been his friend all these years, and very honored to have been invited to witness his nuptials to his wonderful long-time boyfriend (now husband!) Teddy in Colorado this past weekend.
Both James and Teddy are true Renaissance men: They are incredible actors, singers, theatrical producers, designers and legendary cooks. With such talents, and an incredible love story, this wedding was bound to be magical - and it did not disappoint in the slightest. The catering was superb (I definitely ate too much), the speeches and vows heartfelt (I definitely cried), the DJ was stellar (I definitely danced my feet off) - but what really stole the show for me was the venue.
Cherokee Ranch and Castle Foundation is a hidden gem in Colorado. With an extensive history dating back to the 1890's, the main property is beautifully situated on 3,400 acres with spectacular views that capture a large portion of the Rocky Mountain range. Having worked for a historic property at 500 Capp Street in San Francisco, Cherokee Ranch and Castle touched me with their dedicated docents on hand to give personalized tours of the space during the cocktail hour of the wedding. It was thanks to a docent named John (who was the butler to the last owner Tweet Kimball) that we were able to discover works of art by some of my favorite painters (John Constable and Peter Paul Rubens to name a couple). This personalized touch of story telling in their programming was wonderfully done, and I appreciated that their mission of sharing these stories carried through into their events. This can be a delicate dance for organizations: How do you open your doors for rentals to help increase exposure and revenue, while still staying on brand and message? At this event I felt like the team excelled. I learned a bunch, enjoyed a fantastic party and I am intrigued enough based on this experience for a return visit on one of their group tours.
I had an early morning flight the next morning, something I probably will not be doing again after a wedding. In total I only spent about 32 hours in my hometown. While I am not sure Colorado will ever feel like the "right fit" for me, this weekend was a wonderful reminder that there are hidden gems even in places you think you may know. You never know when you will be pleasantly surprised!
(Photo is the view from the wedding..no words could do this justice)
