Today was a big day in our little hometown (ok, it's not so little anymore)! Under a much welcomed, overcast sky, people from across the community gathered to line Tejon Street for the "Parade Through Time" to celebrate our city's sesquicentennial.  The parade, complete with high school marching bands, rodeo horses, vintage vehicles and costumed performers, ended down by the Colorado Springs Pioneers with festivities continuing down the the brand new Olympic and Paralympic Museum.

As a Colorado Springs native of over 50 years, seeing the growth of the town I have grown up in is astonishing.  While watching the Olympics this last week and seeing a drone fly over the recently completed museum and the skyline of home, I stop to think that this is being shown around the world!  Our little town, the town that is also home to "America's Mountain" is also Olympic City USA.  

I feel fortunate to be here for this celebration and look forward to finding ways to contribute to the history of this city in my own way.   Colorado Springs is a special place and a place that I proudly call home!  Happy Birthday to a very special place, my hometown! 

#hometownpride

As I am typing, my husband and I have the opening ceremonies on in Tokyo, a ceremony that should have taken place a year ago. This morning, I headed a couple of miles to downtown to  snap some pictures at the US Olympic and Paralympic Museum and the surrounding area.  As a Colorado Springs native, it is simply mind-boggling to me to think that we live in "Olympic City USA". 

As an elementary student, I can remember when the Olympic Training Center opened at a former US Air Force base just a few blocks from my elementary school.  For so many years, I didn't think much of it.  We still live in the neighborhood and have visited on several occasions.    Many years ago, I took a group of students on a tour as one of my student's mom was training in Greco Roman wrestling.  Such a unique opportunity!   In 2012, President Obama visited the center on his Colorado Springs stop for the campaign. 

As the Olympics begin and I think about my hometown, I am inspired to look more closely at the town that I call home.  

​#hometownpride