Sliding across the plate at #2 is . . . . my October trip to spend one-on-one time with my little sister. For those of you who know me, those of you who read this blog regularly (well, when I write regularly) you know that first and foremost, my relationships with family and friends are extremely important to me. I work hard to understand those dynamics, to keep bridges from burning down, and to build newer, stronger, bigger, better bridges as experience and circumstance dictates. Such is the case here. Due to a severely traumatic bout of post-partum depression which spiraled into post-partum psychosis, my sister found herself placed in the Colorado State Hospital in Pueblo after causing the death of her two precious children, a baby boy, Gabriel, and a sweet young girl, Grace. The years which followed were agonizing for those of us who loved the kids and had a relationship with Rebekah. They were beyond agony for my sister. Court dates, incarceration, public opinion and public hatred, misunderstanding, threats, counseling, reparation, conversations, education, hard, hard, HARD interpersonal work, forgiveness, mourning and, yes, healing, all had to happen in varying degrees for my visit with my sister to become a miraculous reality.
That we did not meet with a chaperon sitting off to the side, as kindly as they were, or visit at the hospital under surveillance, as comfortable as they tried to make such episodes, was enormous. Her therapy and legal decisions have allowed her to begin the precarious societal reintegration process. Part of that involves living in the local community, finding employment, scheduling what therapy and testing may still be necessary at the hospital and continuing to strengthen the solid network of family and friends who do, and will continue to, support her.
Because of the sensitive nature of her story, there are those in society, those in the families directly affected, who do not agree with these processes or the diagnosis. This is not unusual. But it calls for safety measures, including careful use, or lack thereof, of photos. However, me and my Canon managed to snap off hundreds of digital images which do not contain my pretty sister within their pixels, but they do manage to convey the beauty and freedom of this most wonderful of sibling moments.
Shall we take a look?
There was the prerequisite flight, complete with airport Starbucks soy latter and complimentary club soda with a lime twist.
And coming to grips with the broad blue expanse that is the Colorado sky, all the long long day!
(As my niece use to say.)
Though I can't show you my little sister,
I CAN show you my big sis, AKA Laurie-Laurel.
In the Denver area, I had a blast-from-the-past visit with Jennifer, a girlfriend from LHS in Cali.
We graduated in the same class of 1988. And she ends up in Broomfield, Colorado after I move away.
Who'd a thunk it?!
Jennifer also acquainted herself with my new niece puppy, Bella.
I acquainted myself with Jennifer's husband's very permanent house guests . . .
Of which there were many . . .
And varied! He went into taxidermy after a stint as a police officer. Interesting career change, eh?
And there was this cool character of a rockabilly
dude who drove around in a big loud truck.
With a wink and a nod to my affection for Starbucks,
this cute gal caught my eye with her creative use
of the SB lid stoppers.
Whilst searching for our big sister's workplace,
we hit up a SB not far off and I noticed this young man whose face seemed familiar. Turns out his face WAS familiar: he's my niece's fiance! I'd seen him on Facebook though had yet to meet in person.
During a mid-morning donut hunt, we happened upon this colorful crowd of veterans and friends.
They meet every week. The character hugging me found me rather cute but I reminded him that I was, in fact, taken, married, off the market.
Now this precious man is my very good friend, pen pal, e-mailer, fellow writer . . . and just happens to be my 9th grade English teacher from Walsenburg, Colorado. It pays to keep in touch! I love you, MCL.
I made sure to squeeze in whatever kind of mini-reunion I could get with one of my favorite dynamic duos on my husband's side of the family:
Uncle George and Aunt Donna. Here we are meeting in the parking lot of Hobby Lobby in Pueblo.
And, of course, my mom-in-law, Ollie!
(Though I call her Las Palmas: an inside joke.)
I was pleasantly distracted by the sunlight playing with this dragonfly pendant during a road trip to Aspen with my sister.
Her daughter, Grace, liked dragonflies. I remember her bedroom decor featuring the winged whizzers.
How perfect a shadow!
Checking tire pressure before our road tripping!
My niece puppy, Bella, awaiting her mistress and putting up with her paparazzi auntie!
As a chronicler of possible modes of highway death,
it was necessary to record this possibility: suffocation and crushing by hay!
A serene pond replete with avian activity!
Why, here are a few active avians now!
Is she staring me down or WHAT?!
Heading toward Aspen. My first ever trip there in all my years of Colorado living!
A breathtaking mountain view edging a lovely lapping lake.
Changing terrain as we travel higher into the 'hills!'
I was feeling pretty giddy about this time. We hit a switchback that climbed dramatically.
They ain't a-kiddin' ya!
A ground-level view: if I was a rodent . . .
That's where we were!
Where do we look first? The view or the cute pup?
I'm easily distracted . . . as is Bella.
This is what I saw . . .
Lichen sighting.
One rock I won't be taking home.
We stopped so I could take in the remains of this impressive beaver dam.
One of those narrow HONK AS YOU GO mountain roads where turns are taken. Yikes. But a load of the winter color in the trees.
As if to herald our arrival in their namesake town . . .
It was almost as if someone KNEW I was coming!
This timid one had her corner staked out in a local art gallery in Aspen.
This precocious one took care of the REST of the art gallery: personality abounding!
I made friends and found a nice purse hook.
This bronze work reminded me of my niece, Grace, and my son with a boy who could have been Gabriel in his early boyhood.
Is it alien or is it squash?
Don Quixote without a windmill?
Up, up, UP into the Aspens of downtown.
Whatever should we do next?
It's all about the leaves in Aspen . . .
Our purses getting along famously.
A street in Aspen through the miniature lens.
Love the contrast!
Our sustenance before heading back down the mountain trail at night.
Potty break for the pea-sized bladder girl!
Evidence of snow.
I introduced Bella to Starbucks.
(just a bit of foam around the rim)
We tired out before making it to Pueblo, so we stayed the night at a hotel along the way.
And as chance would have it, we sighted a bit of wildlife activity along the hillside!
Activity which spilled down into the road.
It was a fabulous family affair!
All ages were in attendance.
And apparently the fare was quite tasty.
And then the big guy issued a command.
I received on final wistful glance.
And we were properly dismissed!
This ribbon ran straight through a huge chunk of hillside -- just so impressive!
Another pit stop. Another pastoral water scene.
We bid a fond farewell to the rocky landscape.
It's been a pleasure being your guide for the trip!
Behind this droolingly yellow flower is the competition for a share of Starbucks market!
Can you see it yet? Can you smell the sun-roasted coffee beans a brewin'?
Well, you haven't experience coffee done the Colorado way until you stop in at . . .
"_____________"
Google them and read their start-up story.
Then, find a reason to head to Pueblo.
It's just kitty corner!
Would these eyes lie?
If you are still looking for a reason to visit Pueblo, Colorado: how about the band shell down by the river walk?
Check out the local artwork all along the walk.
This is a nod to my son, the wrestler.
Discover the quaint charm of downtown architecture.
Well, aside from the uneventful flight home . . .
And this humorously cool food truck . . .
And this very cool rear light on an old Ford something-or-another . . .
And how perfectly these keys matched the dish on my sister's dining room table . . .
And this fascinating cloth lantern hanging in the living room . . .
And this gossamer swirl of grassy confection which greeted me on one of my morning walks . . .
And this handsome juvenile hawk perched high above me . . .
Bella and I regret to inform you that my visit is complete! All the best pics live in my heart.
(just a bit of foam around the rim)
It was a fabulous family affair!
Then, find a reason to head to Pueblo.
This is a nod to my son, the wrestler.
