A wind picks up through the evergreens. A cool caress that turns the cheeks pink. I grip a canned brew as we walk uphill around the lake. Twilight hues of gold and amber light up the ground, the grass, the trees. I take another sip of Dale’s Pale Ale and drink in the beauty surrounding me. The man-made lake reflects the sky above as I reflect on today’s drive through the Colorado Rockies. The mountain ranges have a life of their own. I can just imagine history galloping through the valleys.

My friend points out an elk across the lake. He’s frolicking through the water with no fear of danger or discomfort. Even from this distance we notice his playful nature. The lone elk continues to plunge into the icy water and the group begins to laugh, presently bound in enjoying the moment.

The world still turns as we catch ourselves in the beauty of a point in time. Sometimes, the most satisfying experiences really are the simple ones.