In the book of short stories by Kali Fajardo-Anstine, I found the story Cheeseman Park beautifully written and painfully relatable. For my final project for this class, I wanted to draw attention to this tale.
My grandparents grew up in North Denver. I know for a fact, that they roll over in their grave each time someone calls it, “the highlands”. For the narrator to begin the story with a shout out to North Denver, immediately caught my attention. But as I continued reading, I shared more similarities with her than I would ever care to admit.
I also moved to a west coast city for a brief period of time to escape Colorado only to meet a guy that would break my heart and also force me to call 911, just as Liz did when she moved to California only to fall in love with a married man to do the same. When I moved back to Denver, I turned to the comfort in alcohol and other vices to release built up trauma and pain that I had held in. I also found bizarre comfort in meeting strangers and rebelling against my mother.
I will never forget that period of my life because it was my darkest ever and the reference in the chapter to how Cheeseman Park used to be a cemetery and how I felt close to death in a controlling and toxic relationship. But because of it, I will always appreciate the best moments. The poppies symbolize those moments. Poppies break through the snow after a long, and dark winter. They rise bright orange and strong.
“Always remember, this is our home” is a quote Liz’s mother says to her about Denver. When I came to Colorado after returning from this dark time in my life, I could feel that message pulsing through my veins.
