For the past seven and one-half years I have been waiting for my best friend, John, to visit me at my apartment in Boulder. It was on February 24, 2008, that I bought a futon couch for him to sleep on in my living room. We have met here several times in that period, but he usually stayed in a hotel. I have also stayed at his home in California several times over the years.

But this weekend he stayed with me. John is officially retired as a pastor of the United Methodist Church, but it was as a pastor that he came here this time to conduct funeral services on Sunday for a former parishioner.

Today, however, John was free to spend the whole day with me, and we chose to go to the high country. Right at sunrise we reached Brainard Lake at 10,300 feet, and what a glorious morning it was!

While every morning is cold there, we had ample sun and unusually still air. In my experience this is one of the windiest places, but it had gone elsewhere this morning. The lake was totally still.

Brainard Lake Reflects John and Mount Audubon, Elevation 13,229 Feet

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Later, Brainard Lake Reflected Me Too

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When we arrived at the lake, John and I sat down for a picnic with my favorite cheese, Cowgirl Creamery’s Red Hawk. Several Gray Jays — also known for good reason as “camp robbers” — visited us. One of them immediately showed its good taste in cheese by joining our picnic.

The Gray Jay Likes Red Hawk

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A few days earlier a different species of jays let me take its picture just a few feet away.

A Steller's Jay at the Shore of Brainard Lake

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And just a few feet away from this bird I found a flower that reminds some people of a monk’s garment.

A Monkshood by Brainard Lake

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When we returned to Boulder we went to lunch at the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse, a favorite of both of us.

We Visit the Tea House

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After a visit to another of our favorite places in Boulder, the Leanin’ Tree Museum of Western Art, John flew back to California this afternoon. He again invited me to visit him there early next year.