This has been a crazy week. Saturday afternoon two great friends came up to the mountains to visit. We had a wonderful day/evening chatting and catching up. While one of my friends went skiing, I talked to the other one about the experience of writing her books. I am seriously thinking about writing a book about Allipalooza and it was good to hear someone’s experience with writing.
On Sunday, I went back to my new favorite coffee shop, drank fresh brewed Chai and spent an hour or so writing. It was glorious. After spending the rest of the morning and early afternoon working on my fundraising letters, I had more visitors. Ironically, it was friends that were moving from Maryland to Seattle and had stayed at my house in MD the prior weekend. While I had the privilege to fly across the country, it was nice to hear their adventures from driving. Later that night I went to a local pub to finish my “mini-tour” of beer tastings and receive a St. Patrick’s day t-shirt.
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| Not all my writing inspiration was from Chai |
As expected I enjoyed my beers, but what I didn’t expect is to sit next to an incredible woman from Iowa. After talking for a while we learned that we had a lot of things in common. It was almost eerie. Both of us are on the cusp of taking a big risk and embarking on an adventure that will likely change our lives. Hopefully, our paths will cross again during another stage of Allipalooza.
On Monday I headed into Denver and had lunch with the founder of First Descents and later that day made dinner for a bunch of First Descents Alumni. It was so nice to share experiences at FD and my thoughts about Allipalooza with these wonderful people and get their take on it. I am also planning for a 5k on March 11th as a Team FD challenge (more on that later) and I am very nervous about being able to complete it. I voiced my concerns and received so much encouragement from these people that I had no doubt I will be able to not only complete the walk, but do it with confidence.
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| Awesome Chair in one of the Clubs |
Tuesday morning I had to get up really early and head to the airport. I went to Las Vegas for a planning meeting for the event I am working on for the end of March. I was actually a little peeved that I had to interrupt my vacation to go to this meeting, but it was a great day. I hung out with awesome young adult cancer advocates putting the last minute touches on what will be an incredible event for 500+ young adult cancer survivors, caregivers and advocates. I even won a hundred dollars from the slots.
Wednesday, I flew back to Colorado and drove back to the mountains. I felt like I was coming home. This place speaks to me in a way I never thought possible since my time in California. I feel so alive and love life so much. Someone asked me how much I’m loving life and I responded “more than my nearly 40 years times a trillion”. I feel like singing from the mountain tops. Don’t worry, I will not pull a Julie Andrews and sing “The Hills are Alive”, at least not anytime soon.
Thursday was a productive day of work and writing. I spent most of the day at the coffee shop soaking in the atmosphere and being inspired. As is my habit has been the last two weeks, I went to bed early and unlike most mornings today I slept in. I did not get up until 7am. If only I can continue this schedule when I get back home and stay productive. Speaking of home, I really do not want to go back to Maryland. I do miss my friends and family, but I am enjoying my times in the beautiful mountains that I feel like I belong here. For twelve years now and twenty-some before that Maryland has been my home, but I am not too sure that hold true anymore. I think one of the purposes of Allipalooza is to ponder not only what my future is, but where it will be.
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| Enjoying the outdoors |
Yesterday it snowed again and I loved walking Maya in the snow. It was one of my favorite things to do with Oscar, my golden retriever. The world seems so fresh and unspoiled when it snows and all the missteps of previous days are covered up and we get the opportunity to begin anew.
This weekend three more friends are coming to the mountains and we will enjoy each other’s company, good food and the peaceful surroundings. We are going tubing tomorrow afternoon and I plan to take them on a walk to the coffee shop one morning.
Did I mention that Maya gets to go with me to the coffee shop with me? Could there be a better place to get work done and while having great food, beverages and conversations? I met a couple that used to live 15 minutes from my condo in Columbia. The world is a very small place.
Well that is enough rambling for today. Basically I just wanted to tell everyone how happy I am and how much I am enjoying the first stage of Allipalooza.
Peace, Hope and Blessings,
Alli
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