COLORADO GIRL CHAPTER 1: “SNAKE RIVER” Amidst the frigid snow capped Rocky Mountains lives the Colorado Girl. Returning home following graduation from Middlebury College in Vermont, she makes a promise to herself and her family: they will never be apart again. Colorado Girl encompasses all that Colorado has to offer. As the Colorado Girl, Alison Sizemore has guys constantly chasing her since she is a beautiful and gregarious blueeyed blond from Frisco in Summit County. Beneath her beauty is a warm, loving and closely-attached-to-family tomboy who thoroughly enjoys all the outdoor activities the mountains have to offer - from fly fishing to boarding. Growing up in Summit County, Alison has come back home to the mountains she loves. Older now and imbued with an outgoing personality, she enjoys the nightlife of the 20 Somethings of Summit County to the fullest. Our Colorado Girl’s motto is life goes by once and we are to enjoy it to the maximum under God’s guidance. Alison loves to dance and socialize. She also enjoys micro brews from the Breckenridge Brewery. While relishing her return home, Alison faces a major challenge: coming to grips with her mother’s recently diagnosed fatal illness. In the midst of this consuming family struggle with the prospect of losing her mother, she falls deeply in love with a young Denver cardiothoracic surgeon who recently finished his fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. If you love drama, mountain sports, the 20 Something lifestyle, and value how close a family can be, then “ Colorado Girl “ will both inspire and challenge. ALISON
IT WOULD BE SURE NICE IF THESE CUTTHROATS WOULD START BITING DAD.
DAD
THEY WILL - JUST GIVE IT TIME. WE’RE IN A NON HATCH SEASON SO GETTING THESE TROUT TO THE TOP OF THE WATER IS TOUGH. THEY ARE HIBERNATING A BIT. BUT THEY WILL COME.
ALISON
OH LOOK - I’VE GOT ONE - WELL HE’S GONE JUST LIKE THAT.
DAD
YOU NEED TO TUG HARDER THE INSTANT THAT FISH HITS THE LINE.
ALISON
YOU’RE TELLING ME -- THESE GUYS ARE SMART. YES VERY INTELLIGENT.
DAD ALISON
I FIGURED THAT. IT’S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE’VE GONE FLY FISHING DAD. I BET YOU REALLY MISSED IT.
DAD ALISON
TOTALLY. I MISSED EVERYTHING ABOUT COLORADO. YOU NAME IT. I MISSED IT.
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DAD
SO DO YOU THINK YOU’LL EVER GO BACK TO MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE?
ALISON
NO WAY - NO DISRESPECT TO MIDDLEBURY AND THE STATE OF VERMONT, BUT IT ISN’T COLORADO.
DAD
SEEMED PRETTY NICE BACK THERE. LOTS TO DO. GREAT EDUCATION.
ALISON
YES LOTS TO DO IF YOU ARE AN EAST COAST PERSON.
DAD
SO YOU DON’T FIT IN WELL BACK THERE?
ALISON
NOT AT ALL. HEY THERE GOES ANOTHER STRONG BITE. I BET THAT ONE WAS AT LEAST 14 INCHES.
DAD
WE’VE HAD SO MANY OF YOUR COLLEGE FRIENDS HERE OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS. IT’s HARD TO IMAGINE MIDDLEBURY WASN’T A GREAT TIME.
ALISON
NO DAD - COLLEGE AT MIDDLEBURY WAS THE GREATEST. BUT I HAVE A SERIOUS CASE OF HOME SICKNESS THAT I NEVER RESOLVED.
DAD
SO YOU MISSED ALL OF US?
ALISON
YES - ABSOLUTELY 100%. ALL OF YOU!
DAD
THAT’S GOOD TO KNOW. ALL OF US SIZEMORES BACK HERE IN SUMMIT COUNTY, COLORADO MEANT SOMETHING TO YOU AFTER ALL.
ALISON
YES I KNOW DAD I WAS THE ULTIMATE BRAT IN HIGH SCHOOL. THAT HAS CHANGED. ¬I’M MORE OF A LADY NOW.
DAD
I GET IT. YOU ARE JUST LIKE YOUR MOM. YOU HAVE BECOME MUCH MORE SERIOUS NOW THAT YOU’VE GRADUATED.
ALISON
200% WITH THE SERIOUS STUFF. I KNOW WHAT I WANT. SO WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THAT?
DAD
ALISON
I WANT MY YOUNGER BROTHERS MAT AND TOM TO BE CLOSE TO ME. I WANT MY MOM AND DAD AROUND ALL THE TIME. AND I DON’T EVER WANT TO LEAVE SUMMIT COUNTY AGAIN.
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DAD
HMMMM ... THAT IS INTERESTING. MOST KIDS YOUR AGE ARE LOOKING TO SPROUT ELSEWHERE. OH MY GOD WE JUST MISSED ANOTHER ONE. WE ARE TALKING TOO MUCH. THAT GUY WAS 16 INCHES AND GROWING. ENOUGH FOR SUPPER FOR TWO. WHY TWO?
ALISON DAD
WELL MOM IS HAVING A CT SCAN AND THE BOYS HAVE HOCKEY PRACTICE AT THE BRECKENRIDGE RINK TONIGHT.
ALISON
WHAT - MOM IS HAVING A CT SCAN?
DAD
YES - SHE’S HAD THIS UNCOMFORTABLE PAIN FOR A FEW WEEKS THAT COMES AND GOES. THE PAIN HAS BEEN MORE PRESENT THE PAST FEW DAYS SO I MADE HER HAVE A SCAN.
ALISON
WHAT DO YOU THINK IT IS? WHY IS SHE HURTING?
DAD
PROBABLY GALLSTONES AND SHE’LL HAVE TO HAVE A CHOLECYSTECTOMY.* HOPEFULLY IT IS NOTHING MORE. (*Surgery to remove gall bladder)
ALISON
WHAT IF IT IS? WHAT IF IT IS CANCER?
DAD
WELL I JUST PRAY THAT IT IS NOT.....AND IF IT IS WE ALL WILL HAVE TO FACE IT.
ALISON
OH MY GOD DAD! WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME THIS WAS GOING ON? I MEAN IT. I CAN’T FATHOM MOM BEING SICK.
DAD
WE’LL KNOW MORE TOMORROW MORNING. HOPEFULLY IT IS NOTHING OR SOMETHING COMMON, SIMPLE, AND EASY TO TREAT. LIKE GALLSTONES? LIKE GALLSTONES.
ALISON DAD ALISON
SO WHEN IS MOM DONE WITH THE CT SCAN?
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DAD
ABOUT 6 PM. RIGHT ABOUT THE TIME WE ARE DONE FISHING. SHE WON’T FEEL LIKE EATING MOST PROBABLY SO THIS FISH WE’VE CAUGHT WILL HAVE TO DO FOR THE BOTH OF US.
ALISON
OH YOU CAN EAT IT DAD. I’M NOT HUNGRY. SOME OF US ARE MEETING AT THE BRECKENRIDGE BREWERY FOR AN OATMEAL STOUT OR AUTUMN ALE.
DAD
I ACTUALLY LIKE THEIR CHRISTMAS ALE.
ALISON
DO YOU WANT ME TO BRING SOME HOME?
DAD
SURE - AFTER A LONG DAY AT THE OFFICE TELLING PATIENTS THINGS THEY DON’T WANT TO HEAR....I COULD ACTUALLY SAVOR A BREW.
ALISON
AS LONG AS NO ONE IS IN LABOR. AS LONG AS NO ONE IS IN LABOR.
DAD
ALISON
SO DAD WHY DO YOU FISH THE SNAKE RIVER MORE THAN ANYONE I KNOW?
DAD
BEST PLACE IN COLORADO. WET OR DRY FLIES - DOESN’T MATTER. HATCHES OR NO HATCHES - DOESN’T MATTER. IT IS ALWAYS GOOD IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
ALISON
AND IT TOOK YOU YEARS TO SUCCESSFULLY FISH THE SNAKE RIVER.
DAD
YES. LEARNING HOW TO CATCH CUTTHROAT TROUT ISN’T EASY. BUT WILD CUTTHROATS ARE THE BEST EATING FISH ALIVE IF COOKED PROPERLY.
ALISON
SO THESE FISH END UP IN LAKE DILLON?
DAD
YES - THE SNAKE IS THE FLOW OFF WEBSTER PASS NEAR A BASIN, FLOWING THROUGH MONTEZUMA, AND ENDING UP IN THAT BIG DAMMED UP LAKE DILLON. THE BLUE RIVER ALSO FEEDS LAKE DILLON.
ALISON
I THINK WE’RE ONE OF THE VERY FEW PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY FISH THE SNAKE. I GET WEIRD LOOKS WHEN I TELL PEOPLE WE FISH THE SNAKE.
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DAD
YES, EVERYONE GOES TO THE SUPPOSED RED HOT AREAS. IT IS WHAT SUITS THEM. I’M HAPPY THE OTHERS STAY OUT OF OUR FISHERY AND HEAD TOWARDS THE BLUE RIVER. JUST LEAVES MORE FISH FOR US.
ALISON
I ACTUALLY DREAMED EVERYDAY WHILE IN COLLEGE OF RETURNING HOME TO COLORADO. I MISSED IT SO MUCH. IN FACT ALL THE TIMES OUR FAMILY SPENT SNOWMOBILING, BACK COUNTRY HIKING, SNOWSHOEING, CROSS COUNTRY SKIING, AND SLEDDING BACK IN WEBSTER PASS ABOVE MONTEZUMA BROUGHT BACK THE GREATEST MEMORIES.
DAD
SOUNDS GREAT. MOM AND I HAD A TON OF FUN ALSO. ¬FROZE A BUNCH BUT THAT’S OK.
ALISON
I REALLY LIKE THE BLUE DUN. I’VE CAUGHT FLIES ALL YEAR ROUND WITH THIS GREAT FLY.
DAD
I AGREE. THE LIGHT CAHILL IS MY FAVORITE, BUT I’VE HAD SPINNERS AND BOTTOM SLUDGING MAYFLY IMITATIONS DO WELL IN ALL FOUR SEASONS. A TROUT’S DIET IS FINICKY, BUT WHEN THEY ARE HUNGRY THEY EAT ALMOST ANYTHING.
ALISON
I REMEMBER WHEN WE CAUGHT THAT TWO FOOT BROWN. THAT FISH FOUGHT LIKE THERE WAS NO TOMORROW.
DAD
THAT’S THE ONE WE HAVE MOUNTED IN THE FAMILY ROOM.
ALISON
YES - THAT IS WHAT I REMEMBER AND MISS ABOUT COLORADO - THE OUTDOOR STUFF WITH OUR FAMILY. I SWORE I’D NEVER LEAVE SUMMIT COUNTY AGAIN.
DAD
AS LONG AS YOU KEEP THROWING THOSE FLIES UPSTREAM AND GIVE OUR SNAKE RIVER FISH A CHANCE TO REALLY GET A GOOD VIEW OF THE FLY - BE IT WET OR DRY - THEN YOU WILL DO WELL.
ALISON
ISN’T IT FUNNY DAD THAT WHEN A FISH SENSES THE MEAL LEAVING WHEN YOU PULL UP THE FLY, THAT’S WHEN THE FISH BITES.
DAD
EXACTLY. THESE TROUT KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. WE HAVE TO TRICK THEM INTO THINKING THAT THEIR NEXT AND FINAL MEAL IS ESCAPING. IT IS REALLY THAT SIMPLE.
ALISON
SO WHEN I SEE THESE GUYS FACING UPSTREAM I KNOW THEY ARE HUNGRY AND LOOKING FOR PREY.
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DAD
PREY ARE INSECTS - DEPENDING ON THE SEASON. WE CAN IMITATE THE SEASON AND THIS USUALLY WORKS, BUT OLD STANDBY FLIES USUALLY NEVER FAIL. PRESENTATION OF FOOD IS WHAT MATTERS.
ALISON
I’M NO ENTOMOLOGIST BUT IT IS COOL HOW WE CAN FAKE THESE GUYS OUT.
DAD
THAT IS THE FUN OF IT. PLUS THE FISH ARE SO GREAT EATING IF YOU COOK THEM RIGHT.
ALISON
THE BEST TROUT I EVER ATE WAS SMOKED.
DAD
THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN SMOKED TROUT.
ALISON
ANYWAY. WE CANNOT SMOKE TROUT THAT JUMP OFF OUR LINE.
DAD
YOU GOT THAT RIGHT. WE’VE MISSED A FEW TODAY. BUT THAT’S ALL PART OF FISHING. WE NEED TO TUG A BIT EARLIER AND FIRMER TO HOOK THESE FEISTY GUYS.
ALISON
WELL I MAY COME BACK TOMORROW.
DAD
I CAN’T. I HAVE 60 PATIENTS IN MY OFFICE. I’VE GOT PATIENTS RIGHT THROUGH THE NOON HOUR SO I WON’T HAVE TIME TO DO ANYTHING TOMORROW.
ALISON
WELL I’LL JUST CATCH THE FISH FOR US BOTH. MAYBE I’LL RUN INTO SOMEONE WHO LIKES TO FISH. MOST GIRLS DON’T.
DAD
THOSE GALS JUST DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE MISSING.
ALISON
YES MOST GALS JUST DON’T KNOW WHAT A GREAT EXPERIENCE FISHING CAN BE--ESPECIALLY IN THE SNAKE RIVER. MOST OF MY FRIENDS WILL ONLY GO SO FAR. THEY’LL BOARD AND MOUNTAIN BIKE - BUT THERE ARE FEW THAT WILL SNOWSHOE, FLY FISH, CROSS COUNTRY SKI, OR SNOWMOBILE.
DAD
YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A COLORADO TOM BOY - THE CONSUMATE COLORADO GIRL.
ALISON
I’M STILL A GIRL DAD. I LIKE GIRL STUFF TOO.
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YES I’M WELL AWARE OF THAT.
DAD ALISON
STARTING TO GET DARK DAD. THINK WE SHOULD LEAVE. WE NEED TO PICK UP MOM SOON.
DAD
YES -- AFTER I LAND THE NEXT BIG ONE WE ARE OUT OF HERE. THERE GOES A GOOD FELLOW. THE TROUT DO NOT APPEAR TO BE THAT HUNGRY. LET’S WALK BACK ALONG THE STREAM AND FISH THE HOLES AS WE HEAD BACK.
ALISON
MY CELL JUST WENT OFF. A BUNCH OF US ARE MEETING UP AT THE BRECKENRIDGE BREWERY TONIGHT. EVERYONE IS REMINDING EVERYONE. LOTS OF TWEETS.
DAD
SOUNDS LIKE FUN, BUT YOU KNOW THE RULES WITH CLUBBING.
ALISON
DON’T WORRY DAD. I’M NOT HAVING MUCH TO DRINK AND I’M NOT EVEN DRIVING.
DAD
GREAT. BUT MAKE CERTAIN ALL YOUR SUMMIT COUNTY BUDDIES DON’T MAKE FATAL MISTAKES.
ALISON
DAD - YOU ARE WORRYING TOO MUCH.
DAD
WAIT UNTIL YOU BECOME MY AGE. YOU’LL WORRY ABOUT YOUR KIDS.
ALISON
DON’T WORRY. I WON’T BE HOME LATE.
DAD
OK WE GOT LUCKY AND CAUGHT A COUPLE IN THIS HOLE ON THE WAY DOWNSTREAM, BUT WE NEED TO GET ON THE ROAD TO PICK UP MOM.
ALISON
LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE COMPANY. NOT MANY PEOPLE FISH THE SNAKE. ESPECIALLY IN WINTER.
DAD ALISON
HELLO THERE. CATCH ANYTHING?
GREG
YES, I CAUGHT A COUPLE SMALL CUTTHROATS. NOT BAD FOR A FIRST TIMER ON THE SNAKE.
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DAD
YES I’LL SAY. IT TOOK ME YEARS BEFORE I FIGURED OUT THIS RIVER.
ALISON
WELL I’M SURROUNDED BY SNAKE RIVER FISHING EXPERTS.
GREG
I’M FAR FROM AN EXPERT. I REALLY JUST STARTED FLY FISHING. ACTUALLY WATCHED A COUPLE DVDS AND NOW I’M DOING IT.
DAD
STILL IMPRESSIVE THAT YOUR FIRST TIME OUT YOU’RE GOING HOME WITH TROUT. NATIVE COLORADO CUTTHROAT TROUT AT THAT.
ALISON
IS THAT YOUR BEEPER GOING OFF DAD?
DAD
YES. I CANNOT GET THIS BEEPER TO STAY QUIET. SO WHAT IS THE MESSAGE?
ALISON DAD
I NEED TO GO IN. MOM’S CT SCAN HAS BEEN DELAYED FOR A COUPLE HOURS DUE TO A TRAUMA. THEY WANT OUR ENTIRE TEAM IN. I’M ON MY WAY. LET’S GO.
ALISON
BUT I NEED TO CLEAN UP FOR THE BIG NIGHT AT THE BRECKENRIDGE BREWERY. REMEMBER WE ARE CLUBBING TONIGHT.
DAD
ALISON I HAVE NO CHOICE. WE HAVE TO GO. YOU’LL HAVE TO WAIT AT THE HOSPITAL. OK WE’RE OFF.
ALISON GREG
I DON’T MEAN TO INTRUDE BUT I CAN DROP OFF EITHER ONE OF YOU.
ALISON
THAT IS AWFUL NICE GREG, BUT WE DON’T EVEN KNOW YOU.
GREG
SOUNDS LIKE YOU’RE A PHYSICIAN, WELL SO AM I. I WORK AT PORTER HOSPITAL AS A HEART SURGEON. I’VE GOT A COUPLE DAYS OFF AND DECIDED TO SEE SUMMIT COUNTY. I’M NOT A FUGITIVE. I’M HAPPY TO GIVE A RIDE.
DAD
OK NORMALLY I’D SAY NO BUT I SEE THE STETHOSCOPE IN YOUR CAR. CARDINAL LAW OF THE WEST: GUYS THAT FLY FISH ARE ALL GOOD. PLEASE DROP ALISON OFF AT OUR HOUSE OR OFFICE IN FRISCO. MAY I GET YOUR CARD?
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GREG
SURE. I’LL GET HER HOME AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. GLAD TO HELP OUT. SEE YOU LATER.
ALISON
SO WHAT BRINGS YOU TO COLORADO FROM....?
GREG
IT’S MY JOB - I HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY HERE IN DENVER THAT HAS GONE SOUR. MEDICAL POLITICS I’M SURE.
ALISON GREG
ALWAYS.
ALISON
DAD ALWAYS GRUMBLES ABOUT MEDICAL POLITICS.
GREG
YES. IT IS SOMETHING WE ALL DEAL WITH CONSTANTLY - BUT MY PROBLEM IS NOT BEING BUSY ENOUGH.
ALISON
THAT’S WEIRD. MY DAD SAYS HE IS SO BUSY, HE COULD KEEP AN ENTIRE RESIDENCY GRADUATING CLASS BUSY.
GREG
WELL IN HEART SURGERY, YOU WANT TO OPERATE. THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE TRAINED TO DO. ALL THE ROBOTICS AND NEW TECHNIQUES ARE AMAZING, BUT ALL I DO IS BAIL OUT CARDIOLOGISTS AT PORTER.
ALISON
SO YOU GET WHAT IS LEFT OVER?
GREG
YES - MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THE CLEVELAND CLINIC WHERE I TRAINED AND WHERE A REALLY SUPERB CARDIOTHORACIC SURGICAL JOB IS OPEN FOR ME. SO WHY DON’T YOU GO BACK?
ALISON GREG
I CAME OUT HERE AFTER BREAKING UP WITH A GIRL IN THE OR I DATED FOR NEARLY THREE YEARS. NEEDED A NEW START. DENVER SEEMED EXCITING, NEW, FUN, AND A GOOD PLACE FOR ME SINCE THERE WERE NO ROBOTIC TRAINED CARDIOTHORACIC SURGEONS FOR MILES AROUND.
ALISON
THAT MAKES SENSE. YOU JUST NEED TO GET THE WORD OUT IN COLORADO THAT YOU ARE OUT THERE.
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GREG
I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING. EMAILS, LECTURES, SEMINARS, EVENING MEALS, AND........ NOTHING HAS WORKED.
ALISON GREG
WELL YOU DON’T NEED TO BE BURDENED BY ALL THIS. I’LL GET YOU HOME. BY THE WAY - WHERE DO YOU LIVE?
ALISON
I’M ONE OF THE LOCALS. WE LIVE IN FRISCO. JUST UP I70.
GREG
WELL THAT’S PRETTY COOL. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AMAZING TO GROW UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROCKIES.
ALISON
SO ARE YOU STAYING HERE TONIGHT?
GREG
YES, I’M STAYING AT THE KEYSTONE LODGE.
ALISON
WELL IF YOU ARE REALLY BORED YOU MAY WANT TO JOIN US AT THE BRECKENRIDGE BREWERY TONIGHT AROUND NINE. THERE ARE A BUNCH OF US WHO SOCIALIZE, EAT, AND HAVE A FEW BEERS.
GREG
SOUNDS GREAT. I’LL SEE YOU THERE. IS THIS THE TURNOFF TO FRISCO?
ALISON
YES - TAKE THE FURTHEST ONE. DROP ME OFF AT MY DAD’S OFFICE SINCE MY CAR IS THERE. AND I’LL SEE YOU TONIGHT. THANKS FOR THE RIDE.
End of Chapter 1 - Colorado Girl
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