I had lunch at a little Chinese place with my parents, my aunt and two family friends. We met as early as possible because I had an appointment in Cedaredge at 1:00 p.m.  The conversation was usual, with plenty of good natured joking.  As I rose to rush off, I flung an unopened fortune cookie into the take-out box and headed for my car.  The rain was just beginning and it followed me all the way up highway 50 with varying intensity. Independent educators ran for the building and rain continued to drum on the roof throughout our our orientation meeting. When the meeting concluded at 4:00 the rain had abated.  I drove a few more miles toward Grand Mesa, up to my cousin’s place at 8,000 feet. She wasn’t home from work yet, so after I said hello to her husband, I changed my shoes and took a hike; through beautiful rain washed scrub oak, service berry, choke-cherry and pine trees, down by the creek that rushes through the lower part of their property.  My soul was drinking in the refreshment and beauty at every turn. 

My cousin came home.  We threw some fresh veggies on the stove and ran outside again to see the vivid and complete rainbow.  And then, I opened my fortune cookie.