So, my last two posts have been all about me and my introspections and nothing about my time spent here in Colorado, and I think there are some updates I need to do regarding how the time was spent. Thus as a forewarning, this is a ridiculously long post.
My second weekend, Bryan, Jo, & I drove down to Boulder to spend the weekend with Kevin & Beth in their brand new house there. They actually live in a neighborhood in a small town called Lafayette, but they’re only about 10 minutes away from Boulder. On Saturday, we got down a little later than we had anticipated so instead of exploring Boulder, we spent the whole afternoon preparing for the barbeque we were having that night. It was so good to spend time just with Kevin & Beth, though. My relationship with Kev & Beth is so different from my relationship with Bry & Jo because we don’t have the opportunity to spend as much time together. I feel like I have real, deep, and meaningful conversations with Kev & Beth much more often than I do with Bry & Jo. It’s not a bad thing, but there is definitely a difference in the relationships. So anyway, we spent that afternoon together getting ready for the barbeque which was really a party. And what a party it was…we could just leave it at that probably. We had a bunch of their friends over, all of whom were associated with the deli, so I knew everyone there. We had a really good time, and it was very fun to catch up with all the people.
That next morning, we hung around and had breakfast and the boys decided to go back to bed because they weren’t feeling so hot while Jo, Beth, & I went up to Chautauqua to do a little hike. Chautauqua is a trail right in Boulder that goes up past the “flat irons” which are some of the most recognizable peaks in view from Boulder. It was beautiful hiking up because we could look down and see the majority of Boulder, including the university campus. The buildings are all red brick, but they’re much for tastefully designed than the red brick buildings at NC State (no offense…). It’s just such a beautiful town, well really a city, and I love the fact that a small metropolis can still be within 5 minutes of the beautiful Rocky Mountains. For me, Boulder is the best of both worlds.
After our little hike, we went down to Pearl Street where we did a little shopping and met up with the boys for lunch. Pearl Street is crazy—there was a lady wearing a Chiquita Banana outfit and leading a Congo line, some pirates and fairies, all kinds of musicians—none of whom were playing any type of typical music, and then there were plenty of hippies eating up all the festivities on the street. As critical as I sound, I cannot say that I disliked any of the free expressionism taking place in Boulder, but I certainly was not eager to participate in the Congo line! Altogether it was fun walking around Pearl Street. P.S. it is home to a Patagonia store—I bought an adorable dress, because I couldn’t help myself, but I’ve already worn it and I plan on wearing it again to the Tom Petty concert this Saturday!
So after spending some time in Boulder, we went back to Kev & Beth’s house, cleaned up, and the 5 of us headed over to another friends’ baby shower/barbeque in Denver. I’d met the honorees a couple times last summer, so it wasn’t totally awkward, but we all felt a little out of place as the hosts did not do a very good job of hosting and honoring Brook & Ana at their baby shower! After the long day, Jo & I went back to Kevin & Beth’s one more time to get all our things together and grab Salty before we headed back up the mountain to Edwards. It was a nice weekend and it was really good to spend time with everyone.
So then last week I worked every day except for Wednesday, on which Oshi & I spent the day together. Oshi & I worked together last summer in the Edwards deli, and we’re basically the same age, so it’s really nice having a friend my own age in town. We had a really good hike at Booth Falls in Vail, and then we went and got our nails done. Yeah, sounds a little silly, but at least we had our nails done AFTER the hike! Then that night the band America was playing a free concert in Beaver Creek, so Bryan, Jo, & I went up there to hear them. They sing “Horse with No Name” and “Ventura Highway”, and I’m definitely not a fan of the band by any means, but for a free concert, it was pretty good!
Thursday we celebrated the 4th of July (on the 3rd) with another party at Bump & Jillian’s house. All the family members and extended family members were there (including Jillian’s 19-year-old sister who is in town for the month of July), so it was nice to spend time with just the family. We had a great time and even caught some of the fire works from afar.
Friday after work I went ROCK CLIMBING! There are boulders in Wolcott (about 10 miles west of Edwards) that are supposed to be pretty awesome in comparison to other boulders, so Kraig, his friend Chris, Bump’s friend Andrew, and I went down to the boulders and did a little climbing. I didn’t exactly have the best apparel so I couldn’t do anything too hardcore, but I climbed up the side of one boulder that was probably 15 feet tall and then in the “chimney” of another two boulders that were probably about 9 or 10 feet tall. It was fun to do something completely different and outside of my usual realm of outdoor activities. Doing things like that really makes me wish that I had people who I could go backpacking or climbing with back in NC. I just love the outdoors and I can’t stand the idea of losing my touch with the outdoors when I get back home.
Saturday, Jo, Jillian, Leslie, & I went into Minturn for the Minturn Market which is like a cross between a craft fair and a farmers market that takes place there every Saturday. We had a fun time shopping around and I bought a gorgeous handmade silver metal worked necklace from a young designer who had a booth there. Then that evening Kevin & Beth came up, and 13 of us went bowling in Eagle at a really nice bowling lane/restaurant they have there. We had a good time, although I did horribly! We all came back and crashed, and the next day Kev & Beth left early and Jo & I spent the majority of the day sleeping and hanging out around the house. It had been a busy week so it felt awesome to simply relax the day away. Since then I’ve spent the last two days working and hanging out at the place I’ve called home for the last 3 weeks.
It’s getting hard to believe that I only have 2 days left here in Colorado. It is going to be terribly heartbreaking for me to get on that plane on Friday morning, and I’ve already cried once but I know there will be several more tear-fests in the coming days. I think it’s important for me to look at why I love being here for being IN COLORADO rather than being ANYWHERE BUT NC. Of course, it’s very hard for me to look at it that way, but I think it’ll help my leaving a little more.
It’s so difficult saying goodbye to the people I’ve been working with & the customers I’ve gotten to know a little bit over the past two summers. It really hurts knowing that the next time I come to Colorado things will really not be the same at all. There will be a baby—which will be WONDERFUL, but will make for many changes. Also, Bryan & Jo will no longer live in Edwards or the mountains—they’re moving to Boulder so Bryan can work at the Moose’s corporate office. It’s not going to be the same small-town experience, but I know it’ll still be great.
Tonight at work Danny & I rocked out to the Allman Brothers—something I haven’t done in quite some time, and he explained to me the meaning behind one of the songs. I thought the lyrics were perfect for the emotions I’m experiencing in these last few days in Edwards.
"With the help of God and true friends
I come to realize
I still had two strong legs
And even wings to fly
And oh I, ain't wastin time no more
'Cause time goes by like hurricanes
And faster things"
-- The Allman Brothers
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