Monday January 30, 2023
I woke up this Monday morning and cleaned up my guest room accommodations.
Which during the week doubles as her office space!
She’s been blessed with a job that allows her to work from home M-F which with having a husband in the service works out spectacular. If he ever has to go over seas for an extended time, or when they have to move to their next location after this one, she will be able to bring her job with her wherever that is. She just spent the Christmas holidays in NY for nearly a month too. Just incredible to me that these types of jobs are available!
I gathered my things and headed out to bring her back a latte before I scooted out. I wanted to try that little shop in downtown Fountain that seems cute…turns ou tthey were closed! The shop was called “The Last Drop” so maybe they ran out finally? Ha!
Dunkin it is!
A daughters hug to last over the next hundreds of miles and off I went!
I had made plans to head to Breckinridge Colorado to meet up with some friends who live minutes from the mountain and town there. However the weather was showing a snowstorm along with subzero wind chill temperatures and forty mph winds all along the roads that pass thru the mountains to their place. I remember my sister Linda telling me a story where they almost got stuck up on some of these roads and other people are telling me sometimes they close them due to the conditions. Wow this is some real winter stuff!
I’ve been hearing “It hasn’t been this cold” or “this is unusual weather for us” I don’t know how many times this trip. Started back in Tennessee and Kentucky remember!? In those states I believed them. Here, well, I mean, we’re up at over five thousand feet and Breckinridge is at nine thousand and up to thirteen if you do anything up the mountain there so I mean….what do ya expect!?
It’s like starting an Everest expedition and then being surprised you needed to bring gloves.
COme to think of it - it is beginning to feel like my stop in Fountain Colorado was like a Base Camp One where I could acclimate before I was to move on.
The only thing that hasn’t been provided to me on this trip are Sherpa guides. And actually one of those wool like furry warm looking hats they wear. I could probably use one of those...
So I was able to switch up the itinerary due to the generous hospitality of Rob and Ashley who welcomed me to their home closer to Denver.
With these frigid temps we both decided to just hang out at their place with his two awesome kids, and fire up his grill. Ashley was working and would be home later.
Rob and his wife are both air traffic controllers out here that I met years ago when they worked at the same facility I did back in NY.
He and I had formed a friendship thru similar interests years back like wakeboarding and cycling and we used to try and do crazy tricks on the wakedboard using his in-laws boat up near Port Jefferson NY. His in -laws, (Ashleys parents for the logically impaired : ) are the couple that I am headed to next over in Breckinridge. All just good peoples…
Rob ended up cooking an amazing steak for dinner which is hard to believe the grill fired up and got hot enough in this weather but it did! Huh!? Maybe he’s the Sherpa guide?!
I mean we are at over five thousand feet and not only is he not affected by it but’s he’s cooking a steak out in three degree temperatures...barefoot. And actually he’s like 6’6” too so the oxygen up there is even less so I’m thinking he’s gotta be probably part Nepalese.
I think that’s what the Sherpa’s are? Nepaleans? I think they make the thin crust round pizza too? Like not the Sicilian style but the Napoleon one. I much prefer the thin crust one.
The thick crust one fills me up to quick. Although I had a Detroit style pizza before I left that was kinda like Sicilian but had cheese all around the crust…so good! I I think that place is called Donatina's in Patchogue.Try it if you're ever in the area. But I don’t think the Nepalese make Detroit style pizza though…that definitely sounds American. I’ll have to ask Rob.
It really was such a pleasure to just chill and talk over a great meal and to catch up. To see them years later as an amazing married couple raising great kids warms my heart up!
We ate, had a drink and passed out by 9:00pm!
Inside
Meeting Rob and Ashley years ago as single people and seeing them now as a couple that really seems to know how to work together as a unit and raise kids is just spectacular.
As a divorced parent I noticed a few things going on inside me.
It’s not jealousy - but more of a joyous confirmation of two things inside me.
That fact that two people can form a bond and grow with each other thru it and raise a family. As a divorced dad there is a piece of me that resonated with what could have been if things had panned out differently in my life but more so to know that these kind of relationships can and do exist. Gives me hope for experiencing that in my future!
The other thing is the strong desire to actually walk the second half of my life with someone where conversation flows, laughter is spontaneous, honor and respect for the other and our differences exists and love not only deepens inside but flourishes outside spilling into those around us.
Sure there are always challenges in relationships, but so good to see both Rob and Ashley living out a spectacularly blessed life with all of these qualities as a foundation in your marriage.
Outside
Can I say freakin’ cold again! Literally minus eighteen wind chill temps are out there!
Upside
So good to have friends welcome me in as I’ve said. Also so good to see how different families roll together making things work in their way and raising beautiful families.
Five star accommodations definitely win the award here though. The house and all it’s furnishings were so comfortable, the bed just enveloped me into a deep blissful non-mountain lion worry of a sleep.
downside
A little tug of a memory of when my kids were all home with me and how warm that can feel! Leaving Arianna and seeing other families with all the activity threw me back to that time in my life and to the spectacular, yet sometimes bittersweet memories it incurs now.
Every Which way but East!
Headed to Breckinridge Colorado tomorrow!
Breckinridge temps were even lower....
Both dad and daughter doing a little work from 'home'
She's got this big "I know you're taking my picture but I'm not turning around" grin on her face lol...
OK maybe bathroom shots are weird on a blog but man after taking care of cats in all kinds of locations this was just super crazy! The 'rain' shower also...so good!
Say hello to the Smith's for Deb n I!