My initial purpose in visiting Big Blue was to rendezvous with some friends who were visiting from out of town. I figured she would serve as a fitting landmark to help my orient guests and also provide a glimpse into Denver’s tradition of crafting giant blue statues in seemingly random locations (see Blucifer).

To these purposes the statue worked like a charm. As I approached I could see my friends laughing and posing alongside our beloved-ish cerulean ursine. They excitedly asked me to join in for a group selfie with Blue which I begrudgingly obliged.

But as I put out my hand to lean against her I suddenly felt the earth shift beneath my feet. The sky swirled and the streets swirled and spiraled and I found myself spontaneously transported to a different world.

It was a world of big blue bears.

Once I recovered from the shock of my teleportation I took in my surroundings. It was just like Denver, but bigger and… sorry, but I have to say this… bluer.

The city looked almost exactly like Denver, but quadrupled in size. Kind of like that one level in Mario Bros. 3 on the original Nintendo. Giant buildings, massive cars, parking meters as big as sequoias.

I wanted to take a seat to take it all in but the benches were too high. I looked for a spot on the sidewalk, but was afraid of getting stepped on. As I searched for a spot to sit I glanced something that seemed out of place. As I looked closer I saw a statue of myself, pressed up against a glass window, peering into the conference center. I can only describe the expression on the statue as forlorn, wordlessly expressing that he desperately wanted inside but due to his size was unable to enter.

It was at that moment that I realized that blue is something bigger than a statue, she is symbolic of an outsider. Of being someone who feels so out of place and exposed but wants nothing more than to be inside with the others.

I slowly walked up to myself and laid a gentle hand on my shoulder and said “you may be different and you may not always fit, but you will always belong.”

And with that I was warped back to the Denver I grew up near. I must have only been gone a moment as none of my friends registered my absence.

Thank you Blue. You will always stand for what Denver should strive to be, a place where everyone can belong.