By now you've heard the news that the world's most wanted man, Osama Bin Laden, has been killed in Pakistan. I am sure that every American is experiencing a turmoil of emotions, among them relief, closure and solace. I know I am. I will never, ever forget September 11th, 2001, and how I sat rigidly on the couch for 15 hours straight watching the news in a state of suspended horror, as Peter Jennings' voice grew hoarse and a five o'clock shadow crept slowly across his face. I remember calling in to work to say I wouldn't be coming in that morning because of a plumbing emergency at home, and my boss telling me don't bother, haven't you heard the news? America is under attack, the Pentagon is in flames. And then turning on the television and watching in real time as the World Trade Center just... collapsed. Shock, horror and a sense of helplessness, and not being able to fully grasp what I was seeing unfold before my eyes. It was like some big budget Steven Spielberg movie come to life. It couldn't possibly be true. But it was. And now the mastermind behind that terrible day is dead. It is horrible to express jubilation over the death of another human being, but I will say it: I'm glad he's dead. Even if it doesn't have a huge impact on the Taliban, al Qaida and other radical terrorist groups, I'm glad he's dead. To think of the pain and destruction he caused... well, this is a man who deserved to die badly. I have nothing but gratitude toward the brave Navy SEALs who carried out the secret operation that resulted in his demise, and toward President Obama, who gave the executive order to do so. Thank you, and to all of our troops who have been fighting this endless war on terror, thank you.
Yesterday Pat and I took a drive up Gold Camp Road with our friend Joe, who is an avid fisherman. The purpose of our excursion was to visit Rosemont Reservoir, one of Joe's favorite fishing spots, to see if the fish were biting yet. We stopped for a moment at a spot far above the city, where I took this photo. On a clearer day you'd be able to see more detail but I think this image shows how sprawling Colorado Springs is. It stretches way out into the plains!
The Mining Exchange Building, built by Winfield Scott Stratton in 1902, sits on the southwest corner of Nevada and Pikes Peak. True to its name, it was the financial nerve center of the mining business. Once the gold boom went into decline, the stately building became the home to many different professions: lawyers, accountants, insurance companies, the railroads. In recent years there's been a bank on the ground floor. But in the last several months I've noticed that the Mining Exchange Building was empty and yet furiously under renovation, so I finally googled it after taking this picture the other day. Silly me, I seem to have completely missed the boat on the big news: this lovely edifice is being restored to its original beauty inside and out, so that it may become a luxury hotel! (Read THIS article in the Colorado Springs Independent to learn more.) I have always loved the Mining Exchange and its companion next door, the Independence Building, which is part of the big plan as well. In addition, the structure to the south of the Mining Exchange, the former Utilities Building, which is a true Art Déco gem and one of our few surviving examples of the Déco style of architecture, will be put into use as part of the hotel -- perhaps housing a fine dining restaurant or a jazz bar?
The Alamo Building on Tejon Street is a very recognizable downtown landmark. I think it's one of our prettier historic structures. Built in the 1880s as a hotel and originally called Himebaugh Place, it was renamed in February of 1886, on the 50th anniversary of the siege on the Alamo -- you know, the one in Texas. Interestingly, it was billed as "the first fireproof building in Colorado Springs". The Alamo served its purpose as a hotel for generations, then in the mid-1970s it was rehabbed into office spaces (in fact, my lawyer's offices are in the Alamo). The reflections on the surface come from the windows of the building across the street, the Plaza of the Rockies.
