Company reunion

By Curt Swarm

In looking for the address of an old friend in Loveland (Land of Love), Colorado, Ginnie and I drove right by the old AA building where I sobered up 35 years ago. I had forgotten where the AA building was, although I had spent many an evening there, and some lunch hours. But when I saw the AA building, I knew I was where I was supposed to be. The trip to Colorado was worth it just to see that building. It saved my life.

I used to work for a manufacturing company in Loveland, Colorado, called Hach (“Hawk”) Company, originally located in Ames, Iowa. There was going to be a company reunion for former employees in Loveland. I knew I wanted to go. It might be the last time I would be able to see some of these people. Ginnie and I made harried plans for the trip.

My first wife and I lived in Windsor, Colorado. Ginnie and I drove by the old house. I was able to see the three trees I planted by the curb: a locust, because we lived on Locust Street; a Colorado Blue Spruce, because we lived in Colorado; and a maple, because it’s my favorite tree. Those three trees are now huge, and completely dominate the parking. They are shade for the cluster mail box and parked cars, like three giant sentries.

While in Windsor we lunched at a First Watch. I had Shrimp’n Grits. Yep. I love eating exotic (strange) food. Who would have thunked grits and shrimp could go together? (They really don’t.)

The next day, Sunday, Ginnie and I went to the Benson Sculpture Garden in Loveland. If you’ve never seen this Sculpture Garden, it’s worth the trip to Colorado just to see it, like the Holy Grail. I was short of breath, so I couldn’t walk around much, but Ginnie did. I sat in the shade and enjoyed the view: a banana sculpture on skates, and kids playing Ring Around the Rosie. Ginnie, young at heart, joined in.

Tourism is a major industry in Colorado, so the state does things a little differently. U-turns aren’t necessarily illegal. There is so much traffic, with tourists getting mixed up as to which way to go, that some traffic lights allow drivers to make U-turns. Yup. Ginnie, who did most of the driving, took full advantage of the U-Turn light.

And cell towers are disguised as trees to blend in with the environment. They look like Christmas Trees that you assemble in your home. Maybe in Iowa we could disguise cell towers as corn stalks?

The Company Reunion was so much fun. I saw former co-workers I haven’t seen in years. Because of my shortness of breath, I wasn’t much up for high-altitude hiking, so sitting in the shade of a park shelter, gassing with old friends, was right down my comfort zone, like the selection of desserts ready for us to eat. “Remember that time, Curtis, the owner of the company caught you with your head down on your desk, sleeping?”

“I sure do. I also remember when he had a heart attack at work and we did CPR. I broke a couple of his ribs for him. He was dead before he hit the floor. Talk about job stress!”

Returning home from Colorado, the state where I sobered up, to Iowa, where I was born and intend to die, the prairie was lush and green from June rains. Buddy welcomed us at the door by tail wagging and turning circles. Stormy complained, “Where have you been?”

We’d been to The Land of Love.

Contact Curt Swarm at curtswarm@yahoo.com