Ask Rachel

Ask Rachel

Email Rachel at telegraph@durangotelegraph.com

Dear Rachel,

Spring break is a tradition, an institution, as depended upon and perhaps more sacred than Santa Claus. But as a parent, my biggest question is: why? Why do we have to handle our kids without the help of taxpayer-funded babysitters for an entire week, plus surrounding weekends? I can handle one- or two-day breaks. Not a week, though. If I loved my kids that much, I’d be home-schooling them.

– Spring Broke

Dear Guardian,

I’m wondering what the opposite of a helicopter parent is. One who operates their kids at a distance. A drone parent? Sounds like boarding schools were invented for parents like you. But at the same time, I get it. I’m sitting in an airport terminal, watching a mother with what looks like young twins, and thinking that the only thing worse than being on the same flight as them is being on the same flight as them and being responsible for them.

– Beginning the preboarding process, Rachel

 

Dear Rachel,

I just got a shipment notification email from FedEx. The jinky part is, I didn’t order anything, and I’m not expecting anything. It seems like the email would be spam, except that it has a lot of my personal information correct, like my mailing address, and the tracking number checks out on the website. There’s no sender info, though, other than an origin city. Should I be worried that I’m about to be in an untitled Unabomber sequel?

– (Un)intended Recipient

Dear Current Resident,

Ooh, a true surprise! I always have to pretend to be surprised when I get presents. I am pretty good at guessing what’s in wrapped packages. Mostly because, most people suck at disguising what’s clearly a T-shirt, or a bottle of wine, or a box of Legos. Don’t answer your phone or check your email or communicate with anyone in any way until your package arrives! You don’t want to risk spoiling what is a complete surprise, especially if it is your last.

– Kaboom, Rachel

 

Dear Rachel,

I recently flew through the Durango airport. Before going through the invasive body scanner, the nice uniformed man told me that there were no hats allowed in there. I went in anyway, and he repeated himself less nicely. I realized he meant my beanie. I had to take it off for the first time since December. Doesn’t he realize that our beanies are our second skins around here? That he essentially made me walk naked through the scanner, without even the joy of a pat-down?

– Topless

Dear Nekkid,

This is where we’ve gotten with the security theater. High-ranking politicians could be smuggling endangered animals in their ridiculous a-toupee-would-be-better coifs. But you, a Coloradan just trying to stay warm, get stripped down because you could be stashing... what, exactly? in your cap. Marijuana? Every ’Radan worth their beanies has already ingested, inhaled, injected, whatever, before taking to the friendly skies. I’d help you take a stand, but I have to catch my flight.

– Final boarding, Rachel

Top Shelf

An Americana icon
An Americana icon
By Chris Aaland
08/31/2023

Folk Fest headliner on climate change, indigenous rights and summer road trips
 

'Matli crew
'Matli crew
By Chris Aaland
06/29/2023

Party in the Park returns with Latin rock supergroup

The bottom of the barrel
The bottom of the barrel
By Chris Aaland
08/19/2021

 After 14 years, ‘Top Shelf’ hangs up the pint glass

Back in the groove
Back in the groove
By Chris Aaland
07/29/2021

Local favorites the Motet return for KSUT’s Party in the Park
 

Read All in Top Shelf

Day in the Life

Half a century
Half a century
05/26/2022

A look back at the blood, sweat and gears as the Iron Horse turns 50

Bottoms up!
Bottoms up!
By Stephen Eginoire
05/27/2021

With this year's runoff more like a slow bleed, it is easy to let one's whitewater guard down. But remember: flips and swims can happen any place at any time. 
 

Cold comfort
Cold comfort
12/17/2020

Seeking solstice solace in the dog days of winter

A Grand escape
A Grand escape
By Stephen Eginoire
11/19/2020

Pandemic fatigue? Forget the world with three weeks on the Colorado

Read All in Day on the Life