To all of the people who have affected my life "for good"...

"I've heard it said

That people come into our lives

For a reason

Bringing something we must learn

And we are lent to those

Who help us most to grow

If we let them

And we help them in return

Well, I don't know if I believe that's true

But I know I'm who I am today

Because I knew you." 

From the moment I first heard this song ("For Good" from the musical Wicked), I knew it was going to be something I quoted for years to come. Especially during this time of my life. I have been realizing lately that people really do come into your life when you need them the most. And for some reason, when that happens, it's like it was meant to be all along. Even if your paths had crossed a long time before or at a different time in your life, some people were just meant to be in your lives...forever. And over the course of the last year and a half or so, I have had many people that have resembled that in my life and I thought I would take a moment to recognize some of them...

* Like my friend-turned-roommate, whom I met back in college and we really weren't that close, but somehow when we reconnected a few years back, I can't imagine not having her in my life. 

*Like my friend who was more like an acquaintance in high school than she was a close friend, but when we reconnected on Facebook, we found out that we both live in the same area, we both went to massage therapy school and we both love photography. 

*Like my ex-teacher from massage school, whom I see for energywork because she's amazing at what she does. But little did I know that she graduated from the same high school I did, just 25 years prior. 

*Like one of my favorite clients, who reminds me every session that "Trigger points are jerks", sarcasm is good, and an intuitive massage therapist is better than a practical one any day of the week.

*Like one of my new best friends. We crossed paths at Colorado State many years back and then, once again at Denver School of Massage Therapy, but we were merely acquaintances then. Then, a chance re-connection in the hallway outside of our massage therapist's office sparked a friendship that has spawned enough text messages, sarcasm and flat-out fun to keep us laughing and entertained for MANY years to come...

*And about that massage therapist... I had NO idea what I was in for a year ago when I asked him to work on me. I mean, I knew that he was an amazing structural bodyworker, but I wasn't nearly prepared for all the ways he has affected my life.  From Day One, he and I have been like kindred spirits. He's that person you feel like you've known your whole life, but haven't... He has managed to open up not just my body, but my mind and my heart as well. And for that, I will be forever grateful...

"It well may be

That we will never meet again

In this lifetime

So let me say before we part

So much of me

Is made of what I learned from you

You'll be with me

Like a handprint on my heart

And now whatever way our stories end

I know you have rewritten mine

By being my friend." 

To all of you who have left a "handprint on my heart", I love you all...

"Does that make us morbid...?"

Ok, so I'm starting to realize that people can bond over the most interesting things. Like cemeteries, for example. Yes, I said cemeteries. For the longest time, I always thought that my mom and I were the only ones who got this sick joy in going to visit cemeteries. She kind of got me into it when I was a kid and, I don't know, I've always had this fascination for them. I like seeing how long people have lived, like trying to figure out if it was some historical thing that they died from (i.e. WWI, WWII, etc..), like seeing everything that has been left on their graves. But I could never really pinpoint it until a friend of mine and I found out that we had the same fascination a few months back...


We were discussing what we did over the weekend and I mentioned that my mom and I had gone up to Central City to check out the old cemeteries, which Central City is known for and has some turn-of-the-century ones up there. I mentioned how I loved going to cemeteries and he mentioned that he did too. Now, through the course of our friendship, we have realized A LOT of random similarities with us so the fact that we shared this in common was not too surprising to me. But his answer was what DID surprise me.


Him: "Does that make us morbid...?"
Me: "Maybe...but I don't think it's morbid at all..." 
Him: "...because I think there is a certain beauty to them..."
Me: "...Oh, absolutely. I don't know how many pictures I took, trying to capture it. And the peacefulness and the energy...I mean, it's almost..."
Him: "...magical?" 
Me: " *deep breath* ...yeah..." 


Now, like I said, this is normal for him and I, but even we didn't realize that the two of us had that random/different thing in common. And it makes me wonder what other random things that he and I, as well as my other friends and I, have in common. You might have things in common with people you didn't expect to have things in common with, but if you take the time to get to know someone, you might actually find out. Get to know someone before you assume anything. You just might find a friend for life or one of your weird fascinations might be one of theirs too...

I loved the contrast...

There were sadly a lot of stuffed animals

"Queen of Central City's" grave

Once again, loved the contrast...

I must confess...I like beer now. Thanks, Grimm Brothers!

I never used to be a beer drinker. Never. Ask anyone who I ever went to a party with in college and every one of them will tell you that I was a "fruity and girly" drink kind of girl. Now, if you know me, you know that there's nothing fruity or girly about me, so why have I never been a beer drinker? Just never had the taste for it. I have gotten better over the years. I managed to find a few beers that I like out of New Belgium Brewery, and, as a Colorado State alumna, I proudly support any brewery in Fort Collins. But I have always been searching for something else...

So back in the middle of last year, I kept getting requests on Facebook to "like" this new brewery in Loveland called Grimm Brothers. Now, I'm all for supporting local breweries and it was the first brewery in Loveland, but I kept wondering why all of my college friends kept "liking" it. So I went on Grimm's fan page and read an article that had been written about the brewery. And there it was in black and white..." vice president and business manager of Grimm Brothers Brewhouse, Aaron Heaton (http://www.reporterherald.com/news_story.asp?id=25651)." Oooohhhhh, now I get it. You see, Aaron and I were friends in college, even short-time roommates, so you could say that we ran with the same crowd back then. I hadn't seen him in like 10 years, but that was one of the best things that I had ever read. I mean, it's not everyday that you read about someone you know starting a brewery. 

So I went up last October with a friend of mine, not really knowing what to expect. After finding the tiny taproom hidden amongst the industrial buildings off of Denver Ave., I nervously walked in the door, only to be greeted by a very loud, "Hi, Robin!!!!" Oh good, he remembered me. After catching up with Aaron and his wife Emily, whom I also know from CSU, my friend and I sat down  (in a crowded taproom) with our taster trays of Grimm Brothers brews. And you know what? Every single beer was AWESOME! And remember, this is coming from a non-beer drinker. But I loved them. And the staff was very knowledgeable (Ok, so the "staff" was just Aaron at the time, but it hasn't changed), and to someone who knows nothing about beer, that was a great thing. Now, I may be biased because this is my friend's brewery, but I wouldn't be writing this if I didn't truly believe in the beer or the brewery. And I truly believe in both, as do Aaron and his co-owner, Don. Aaron gave the friend of mine and I a tour and even though I had no idea what he was talking about, he was so excited about it that I got excited about it. His energy was contagious. And I love seeing people love what they are doing. I just giggled all the way home because I was so happy for him and so proud of him. I went again last weekend because Grimm released its first bottle. Yes, BOTTLE, just a mere eight months after opening its doors. It's a hefeweisen called Hare's Bride (oh, and all of their brews are named for Brothers Grimm fairytales - how cool is that?), and it's just as good as everything else they've come out with, maybe better. I got my two bottles and I plan on giving one to a friend to try, to introduce someone else to Grimm. 

And that is also the purpose of this blog. You all need to check out www.grimmbrosbrewhouse.com to see what else they have in store. Coloradoans (and if you went to CSU with Aaron and I, then I'm looking at all of you especially... ), get your butts up to Grimm in Loveland. You will not be disappointed. After all, they converted this self-professed non-beer drinker into a beer aficionado. Guess I finally got my taste for it. And I'm completely grateful for it...and not biased at all.