Friday morning, Tomlin's friends and family mourned the loss at a memorial service. They still asked the questions. Residential neighborhoods surround Columbine High School, many of them new. Southwest Plaza, with Foley's, Dillards and Sears is nearby, as is Ruby Tuesdays, Mann Theatres, Media Play and a host of other national chains. Paved trails trace burbling creeks.
Speed bumps slow traffic on side streets.
There are still open spaces in this suburb that used to be ranch land. But signs on some open corners trumpet the arrival of more townhomes, new supermarkets. From some ridge tops, the high-rises of downtown Denver are visible, yet the city seems far away. The homes are large, set close together. But there's a palpable sense of distance in many of these neighborhoods.