Transitions......

Downtown Courthouse
We returned from the Big Island, Hawaii on December 21st.  Taking up residence in the Homewood Suites in Boulder.  I have taken to calling it the "Homeless" Suites, given our current housing situation.

It was a bit of a change.  It is snowing heavily, and 5º F as I write this.

We are back in Boulder to celebrate the Holidays, tie up loose ends, and say some farewells.

Also, AIROSMITH the Airstream won't be outfitted and ready for delivery until the end of February.

However, being transient in my own hometown has brought on some interesting feelings.  I would not call it unmoored though I have always had a home-base here.  I find myself sitting at breakfast in a hotel amongst visitors in my hometown.  Like a visitor.  Those who have moved on from where they grew up may not feel it, but I have always been here.  This has always been home-base.  This place is a part of my identity.

We do have places to stay, thanks to friends and family, and we are planning several trips, including one to move our son back to Boulder from Dearborn Michigan.
Michelle, Shawn, Me at Vail

Once back in town, I took advantage to ski Vail with good friends, Shawn and Michelle.

Being with them in Vail recalls so many fine days spent skiing with their Dad, and my friend, Jon.

I finally got my ski legs under me, following a spectacular fall in the powder of Sundown Bowl.  I have cut the fall from the video, featuring only my classic powder skills.

Christmas was spent with family here.  Steff was happy that she didn't have to cook all of the cookies.  Ashley provided a fine prime rib, and we had a wonderful time.
Christmas Dinner


Juan, Vadin & Me at Eldora
I also had the chance to catch several runs with Juan and Vadin at Eldora.  There is nothing much better than grabbing some turns with my grandson and best ski partner!  Juan is a "boarder" like Vadin's mom.  But we have  forgiven them for that.

Happy New Year!
All in all, we are enjoying staying in town, and visiting many of our old haunts. How many times have I driven past the Flagstaff Star?  I don't recall a winter that I didn't see it.  I will miss living here. Though the idea, the anticipation of our nomadic adventure overcomes any feeling to stay planted here in my hometown.  I know that I will always return.  Niwot's curse you know.






Flagstaff Star

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mardi Gras New Orleans

Image
AIROSMITH found ourselves in New Orlean, just in time for Mardi Gras.  We were last here pre-pandemic in 2019.  Parades and marches were restricted in 2021, limited in 2022, but back in full this year. We were once again visiting our gracious hosts, Steff’s cousin Martha and her husband Will.  They ferried us to a friends home in the Marigny, just off of Royal Street. This wasn’t the large commercial parades to be found uptown.  This was pure participator celebration.  Costumed paraders and homespun floats.  It was “Masking Day”.  Alcohol flowed almost as much as the fun and merry making.  There were people and music everywhere.  Nonstop from 8AM until Sunset.  Since a picture is worth a thousand words, here ya go. Graham and Will Steff and Martha My Bride!
Read more

New Orleans

Image
Jackson Square We spent just over a week and a half visiting the New Orleans and the surrounding area.  The main reason we came was to go to the first weekend of the Jazz Fest.  It was a return visit for us.  We came with good friends in 1990.  A bit has changed since then. Fortunately we have friends and family who call this wonderful area home.  We visited them, and made some new ones.  It is one of the reasons we now live this way.  Oh the things you will see, and the people you will meet!  Like Wade Norris who commented on AIROSMITH, "As campers, we want to be proud of our equipment, don't we?" We stayed at the Fairview-Riverside State Park  in Madisonville, Louisiana.  The park is located on the North shore of Lake Pontchartrain, and sits alongside the Tchefuncte River.  It wasn't new to us as we stayed here in December 2010.  But the park has been updated since then.  Speaking with the Park Manager, they put in a new entry station and new bathhous
Read more

Diva Day in the French Quarter

Image
Friday was Diva Day.  It's when a number of marching clubs, The PussyFooters, The Bearded Oysters, The Camel Toe Lady Steppers, The Prima Donnas, The Goddesses of Fun and Marriment, The Divine Jewels of Covington and their Elvi escorts, rally at Arnaud's on Bienville at Bourbon Street and strut their stuff.  Many of these clubs also march in other parades, but this is a chance to see them, up close and personal. With a police escort, they stroll through Bourbon and Royal Streets in costumes that have been a year in the making.  Standouts are the beaded bustiers made from Mardi Gras beads. Want-to-Be Divas wait years to join a club.  These women stroll along with brass bands and do there best to make sure the crowd has a good time. Words really can not do these ladies justice, so I will let the pictures speak for themselves.  As the Times-Picayune says about the French Quarter on the Friday before Mardi Gras, "The greatest free show on Earth." Laissez les b
Read more