Author: Lynn Bartels

Few things are as promising as a sea of caps and gowns, a sign that we continue to march on even in uncertain times. Whether it’s a high school, college — or even preschool — graduation ceremonies are inspiring. I happened to drive by Arapahoe High School the morning of May 21 when the seniors, wearing…

Thanks to my birthday celebration in mid-May, where I dined at three restaurants in two days, I discovered something extraordinary: Life in Colorado appears to be returning to normal. Parking was hard to find. Tables were full — and weren’t blocked off. Seats at the bar were taken. But I will say this: I miss…

Oh, how we wept for the Class of 2020, whose proms and track meets and high school graduations were canceled or delayed because of the coronavirus. But it turns out we should have saved our tears for the Class of 2021. Think about everything the Class of 2020 got to do before the shutdown in…

Two decades ago, in a basement hearing room at the state Capitol, a rookie lawmaker struggled to compose himself as he fought to keep a House committee from watering down and delaying his bill on racial profiling. Rep. Peter Groff of Denver had already agreed to one compromise, but he balked at the idea of…

Talk about full circle. I’m going to get my second vaccination today, April 20, at the same South Dakota hospital where I was born almost 64 years ago. Moderna II, here I come, although the date threw me. April 20 will always bring back memories of the Columbine High School massacre. Dakota Hospital is where…

Meat, mascara and Moderna — March 20 was certainly a red-letter day in the life of Lynn Bartels. Yes, on the same day that Gov. Jared Polis asked his subjects to participate in a “MeatOut Day” to “educate consumers about the benefits of a healthful, plant-based diet,” I joined plenty of other Coloradans in consuming meat.…