people amaze me. being in colorado isn't obviously being in an average u.s. state. colorado is the state with the highest altitude, with one of the fastest growing populations, with the highest life expectancy (6 of the top 10 counties of the u.s. of a. are here in colorado) and if you expect to see obese people in the streets, you will not see more than in europe. i've been especially amazed at the activity of people in higher age. i know that meeting rotarians is not the same as meeting average americans but still. hearing a person 80 years old talking about his/her yesterdays bikeride is really not unusual. my hosts in montrose are simply amazing. both of them well in their seventies, each of them still does sports. i only managed to beat Joy 21:18 in ping-pong tonite and Tom is definitely better at frisB than any of my teammates in here (even if he was better than me, i would not admit that:) four years ago, they were in peru and the galapagos,
Tom rides a bike, Joy plays tennis. plus i would like to be as funny as they are when i am
over seventy. yesterday, Tom took a picture of Joy and me a brought it printed three minutes later. at dinner, i asked Joy about the recipe of the wonderful chinese vegetable dish and i'll get it per email from her. plus they do both so much community service within or outside rotary, i am simply amazed. good to know that life does not (have to) finish once you retire.

btw: i haven't told you Joy's and Tom's house is in the highest place of the whole town and my bed on the first floor which means that i spent two night in a highest bed in the whole community:)

btw: we've done some hiking this afternoon and i've seen a beautiful "black canyon". i think i am coming back to colorado to tour the natural beauties because europe cannot compete in this in any way. i'd give you picture but i've left my cable in grand junction so i need to buy a new one first.

plus: congrats on all the recent birthdays. especially if you turned thirty!