Garden of the Gods

 HI, I'm Momza

and I'm addicted

to 

Garden of the Gods.

 I started "using" when I was 36 years old.

My boyfriend at the time

introduced me to it.

 He brought me here under the guise

of a 

"nice drive".

 Obviously,

I had no idea

what lay in store for me.

 The longer I go without it,

the more I need it...

 my thoughts compel me

to plan ways where

I can get my "fix"...

 I daydream about the beautiful ancient red rock formations....

 I try to hide my  addiction 

but my yahoos know.

They just know, alright.

I try to be all casual when the topic comes up of

"Whadd're we gonna do today?"--

I mention going to the mall

or Fox Run Park.

But then I subtly mention

"Garden of the Gods"--

hoping they'll jump in the car

and go with me.

I know,

I'm making them co-dependent

but 

 I just can't help it.

 I try to distract my mind on 

other places to go

other things to do

 but I'm helpless

to overcome

the call of this Garden.

 The pines beguile me

with their fresh scent...

 and the red rocks and dirt call my name

to bring my family and come play.

 That ledge right there...

that's where Mr. Wonderful 

asked me to marry him.

~

It's where our story began.

Where my "addiction" took root.
Mr W has shown no remorse in introducing me 
to nature's version of
ecstasy.

 So, is it wrong that I don't feel remorse for introducing

my babies to this environment?

Say it ain't so.

 The scrub oaks are sprouting their new spring leaves...

these same leaves will deliver the goods

in the fall when they turn the hillsides

crimson red.

How can anyone walk away from this grandeur

unaffected?

If loving this is wrong,

I don't wanna be right.

 Who can resist a nature-carved seat, anyway?

It begged me to sit and stay and soak it all up.

Any efforts to decline were squashed

and I took my place and sat awhile.

 See that boy?

That boy's been coming here since before he was born.

He knows these trails like the back of his hand.

This is his playground,

this Garden of the Gods.

 See that young woman? She's been coming here since she was a toddler of three years old.

She has her own niches that nature has carved out and she find new ones every time we come.

I taught her how to "use" here too...she's almost as addicted as I am.

I'm afraid there's no cure for her.

 And I can only hope,

with all the energy of my soul

that

when my children think of me,

they'll think of my blessed addiction too,

And know in their hearts

that some addictions

are

very 

very

good.