Authors Note

Ok, so here's the deal with this story. As I write this, it is on the brink of 2005. That means that it was four years ago that this debacle began. Four years ago, I went on a trip with my 8th grade class down the Colorado River in canoes. And, just as a side note, if anyone reading this is considering doing the same as a fun vacation, let me just tell you that I have more fond memories from that trip than I can count, but had I known then what I know now, I would never have gone. It was hot and tiring and endlessly miserable, but wonderful inspiration for a story.

The next year, I, a lowly freshman in high school, decided that it would make a perfect subject for a bit of Gilmore Girls fan fiction. I was excited, and jumped right into the fanficing lifestyle. Well, for a while. I'm afraid that the life of a freshman is tough. I got distracted, I got frustrated, and I'm afraid that I gave up. After a flurry of embarrassingly short chapters, I stopped writing my fic altogether, and expected it to disappear into the fandom's deep dark cellar of unfinished mediocre stories.

But that didn't happen. To my shock, people kept reading my teaser of a story, and they kept reviewing. My last update was in February of 2003, and I believe that was just a cosmetic update, yet up until June of 2004, I still got the periodic review. I have to say, I was shocked that there was any interest.

Now, I must admit that, between the time I abandoned Colorado and now, I began several other stories in different fandoms. However, they've all ended up the same way, left half done and really now definite intention to finish. But none have received the kind of encouragement that Colorado has, which is probably why I recently decided to give it another go, and see if I can't see one of my stories through.

So here goes, Colorado, again. For the returning reader, I'll warn you that I've done a bit of retouching to the original story, but the from the fifth chapter on it's all new material. That's the other change, chapters have been combined, because a chapter just isn't a chapter without a scrollbar present.

Also, some of you may have picked up on some slight discrepancies in geography, as well as the now complete and total departure from the actual show. For the purposes of this story, Chilton is in California, Rory is a senior and is currently single. She and Paris are not friends. Tristan never went to boot camp, but continued on at Chilton, a thorn in Rory's side. The events of Little Boy Lost never occurred. Basically, the relationships are as they were in season one, when I began this story.

And to all of you who reviewed and encouraged and nagged and begged for the survival of this story, I want to say thank you. You're the reason it's getting a second change.

And with that, on to the story…