News Postings is our version of a BLOG and will address topics under multiple categories including: Reflections, News, Events, Christopherisms and others we may add in the future. These categories are intended to give you a glimpse into our life as we deal with the diagnosis of ALS. We invite you to click on comments and give your feedback which will appear on the site. The comments you make may spark further discussion and are greatly encouraged. If you don't want your comment public, just send us an email instead. Thank you for being here!
This summer our family had the opportunity for some old fashioned Colorado mountain time. Some friends of ours belong to High Country Club, a destination club with access to over 30 luxury residences. Some days were going to be unused and they were so generous as to offer them to us. We chose to go to Copper Mountain, a ski resort about 75 miles west of Denver for some fresh air and fun.
Our condo overlooked the Village at Copper Mountain. We were surrounded by a variety of shops for outerwear, activities and eating. In winter, this is the center of action with the main chairlift just a stones throw away from the condo. The open area would be filled with bundled up seekers of downhill bliss.
Summer is a different atmosphere. Still the middle of activity, albeit more laid back, the Village had a peaceful aura about it. The chairlift operated over slopes still awakening from the hard winter. Even in late June, there were still drifts of white lingering from the frequent snow storms of last season. The ride up the mountain still had briskness to it from intermittent cloud cover and a cool breeze.
Every day we had a wonderful experience as a family and we really valued it. We were quite active the first day in the Village Square with Miniature Golf, Go Carts, Quad Power Jump, Bumper Boats, Climbing Wall and the Chairlift Ride. Pursuant to my posting on Insanity in June, I pushed myself to see what my physical limits were. I participated in all activities except the Climbing Wall as my body would definitely not support that and a nap was desperately needed anyway. That evening, we had a wonderful dinner with some friends from Vail at a restaurant called La Tour and ended up running into more friends on our way out.
Thursday we went golfing with family friends that volunteer at the Copper Creek Golf Club. They live in Florida during winter and Copper Mountain in the summer. Their volunteer work allows them free unlimited golf for the season. We were able to take advantage of that rate as their guests. Christopher caddied and drove the cart. That was scary at times on a mountain course, but overall he did quite well. He was also our official photographer and enjoyed taking pictures of the beautiful terrain.
Friday was filled with a fishing adventure at Lake Dillon. We had to walk in a little bit for lake access and I was grateful I had just purchased hiking boots that accommodate my leg braces. They were a life saver as the path was filled with rocks and tree roots, a virtual land mine for ALS patients. Christopher and I rigged up the fishing poles for bait fishing. After several practice casts, Christopher had it down pretty well and so man versus fish ensued. It wasn’t until Jennifer and Christopher went back to the car for snacks that the fish started biting. I caught the first one while they were gone, of course. Four rainbow trout were caught in all and Jennifer got some good reading in while patiently waiting for our lines to jump.
This mini vacation was probably the most activity I have had in the last two or three years as I wanted to see what I could do as opposed to what I think I should do. I had an incredible time with my family and friends, so it was easily worth the temporary fatigue and pain endured. Pushing limits for time spent this way is what adds to life’s abundance. Have you reflected on how you are spending your time recently?
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Bob Petrone Cranston, RI
