What’s it like to live in Denver in the shadow of the DNC? You hear helicoptors a lot. Big military helicoptors, not just eye-in-the-sky traffic-watchers. And locally there are stories about security issues that haven’t bubbled up to the national news, including this one http://www.denverpost.com/ci_10194730
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_10255605
which have residents a little on edge.

So far, the protests are mild and peaceful, which I know many residents were concerned about because seemingly every cop in Colorado has been sent to downtown Denver.

There are lots of celebs in town. Horror of horrors, we may run out of limos! (http://www.denverpost.com/ci_10255605) Up the street from where I had breakfast yesterday there was a brunch for Giancarlo Esposito’s movie Gospel Hill. So for a brief, shining moment Denver feels a little hip.

Most of my friends are going to at least one DNC event. And I feel like I should be partaking of this history in the making in my own backyard. But on Thursday when I watch Obama’s speech on TV like everyone else in the country, even though he’s only a city bus ride away, my heart will be in Omaha, Nebraska, with my grandmother, my great Aunt Addie and great Uncle Charles who are so thrilled to be alive to see this moment.

We have a Democratic mayor, a Democratic state legislature and a Democratic governor. This convention seems to be just one more sign the west is ready to go Democratic. I hope so!

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Carleen Brice
Author of ORANGE MINT AND HONEY
Optioned by the Lifetime Movie Network (LMN)
www.carleenbrice.com