Anyone who lives in Colorado has heard the term "stranded motorists." I never thought much about them or their plight until I found myself becoming one during the big pre-Christmas storm on Dec. 22.

I was on my way home from Boulder that morning. It took me three hours to get from Boulder to south Denver, and instead of getting off the highway and staying with my son and his family in Parker, I forged on, eager to get home to Cascade.

By the time I reached Castle Rock, the visibility was near zero and I knew I had made a big mistake. Monument Hill was a complete white out, and the highway patrol was shutting down the highway. A "good Samaritan" led me to the Shell station on Baptist Road. I have to say I have never been in more terrifying driving conditions, and it took me some time to stop shaking once I was safely in the station.

For the next 36 hours I was the beneficiary of the hospitality of the people of Monument, and I want them to know how much it meant to all of us stranded motorists.

At about 2:00 p.m. the fire department came to the Shell station and transported six of us in the back of the ambulance to St. Peter's Catholic Church, which had just opened its doors as a shelter. Mike and Louise Keough are members of the parish, and they and their sons are all involved as firefighters in the local area.

They left their warm house and the tree they were decorating to come host us weary travelers for what turned out to be 36 hours. Father Bob and Father Jim were there for us as well, and made the church a welcoming place.

We were served a warm dinner of spaghetti left over from a church event. Safeway donated food, which was delivered by the firefighters. And then Jeff at the Broiler Room (restaurant) took phone orders and delivered to the church. Members of the community who could get to the church brought pillows and blankets and sleeping bags.

As we lay on the floor that night, I think we were all saying prayers of gratitude that we were not among those stranded in their cars. We had a new appreciation for a hard floor and a borrowed sleeping bag in a warm room, as we considered what our fate could have been.

I suspect that those who helped us in various ways that night don't think they did anything special - just helped out where they were needed. But I can tell you all how much your actions - big and small - were appreciated. You truly offered us "room at the inn" when we needed it, and we will remember your kindnesses for a very long time.