COLORADO GIRL CHAPTER III: “WIPEOUT” 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: THAT THEY WILL NEVER BE APART AGAIN. THE 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 BLUE-EYED BLONDE FROM FRISCO IN SUMMIT COUNTY, COLORADO. 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 NIGHT LIFE 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.
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SCENE I: INTERIOR. SIZEMORE HOUSE IN FRISCO WITH DAD AND ALISON DISCUSSING THE UPCOMING DAY. ALISON
HEY DAD, MAY WE INVITE GREG OVER FOR SUPPER TONIGHT? YES OF COURSE. WHAT TIME?
DAD ALISON DAD
LET’S MAKE IT EARLY. THERE IS SOME FALL SNOW ON THE WAY. I KNOW IT SEEMS LIKE SUMMER, BUT THE SNOW IS REALLY ON ITS WAY TONIGHT ON I-70. HE MAY GET STUCK HERE. DO YOU LIKE GREG?
ALISON DAD
YES, HE’S GREAT. DO WE NEED TO TALK? YES I THINK SO.
ALISON DAD
OK, I’M ALL FOR A WEDDING IF THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE GETTING AT. IT SEEMS A FAIRLY SHORT RELATIONSHIP. REMEMBER YOU HAVE TO BE SURE ABOUT EACH OTHER.
ALISON
HOW DO YOU EVER KNOW FOR CERTAIN HE IS THE RIGHT GUY?
DAD
WHEN YOU CANNOT BE APART. SOUNDS LIKE US.
ALISON
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DAD
YOUR MOM HAS MENTIONED THAT ALL YOUR FRIENDS HAVE NOTICED A REAL CHANGE IN YOU SINCE GREG ARRIVED. HOW SO?
ALISON DAD
INSTEAD OF KAYAKING, MOUNTAIN CLIMBING, MOUNTAIN BIKING, AND YES, EVEN FISHING THIS SUMMER - YOU WERE OUT WITH GREG.
ALISON
BUT GREG AND I DID ALL THOSE THINGS - JUST NOT AS MUCH WITH MY FRIENDS. HE HAS REALLY GOT BUSY AT THE CU MEDICAL CENTER, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE PRIVATE PRACTICE POSITION AT PORTER HOSPITAL IN DENVER ISN’T WHAT IT WAS MADE OUT TO BE. TOO MUCH COMPETITION AND WAY TOO MANY CARDIOLOGY PROCEDURES IN LIEU OF CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY.
DAD
BUT HE MET YOU THROUGH ALL THIS.
ALISON
GREG’S BIG HANG-UP IS THE CLEVELAND CLINIC. HE HAS A STANDING OFFER TO RETURN THERE ANYTIME AS A FORMER CHIEF CARDIAC SURGERY FELLOW TRAINER. I DON’T THINK THERE IS A COMPARISON TO COLORADO, BUT HE’S MUCH MORE INTO CAREER THAN LIFE.
DAD
I UNDERSTAND ALL THAT. SOME PRACTICES JUST TAKE TIME. AND GREG’S PRACTICE IS NO DIFFERENT. IT WILL TAKE TIME.
ALISON
MAYBE YOU AND GREG SHOULD TALK. I MEAN A TON OF TALKING. HE THINKS HE’S ON HIS WAY TO STARVATION.
DAD
IF HE’S A GOOD CARDIOTHORACIC SURGEON, HE’LL DO WELL. WITH HIS MOONLIGHTING AT THE UNIVERSITY, WORD WILL GET AROUND.
ALISON
WELL HE ONLY REALLY IS HANGING AROUND HERE BECAUSE OF ME. 4
DAD
THAT’S INTERESTING. SO WHAT IF HE PROPOSES AND THE PACKAGE DEAL IS FOR YOU TO MOVE TO CLEVELAND?
ALISON
THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED. I HAVE ZERO DESIRE TO LIVE IN CLEVELAND - NOTHING AGAINST CLEVELAND, BUT IT’S NOT SUMMIT COUNTY, COLORADO.
DAD
I’LL LET YOU TWO WORK THIS OUT.
ALISON
IN MY MIND IT HAS BEEN TOTALLY WORKED OVER, AND I’M STAYING PUT. NOW THAT MOM IS SICK, I’M JUST NOT GOING ANYWHERE. I WAS AT MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE, AND IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE, BUT AGAIN IT’S NOT SUMMIT COUNTY.
DAD
I THINK GREG WILL NEED TO MAKE SOME LONG TERM CAREER DECISIONS.
ALISON
I AGREE. SO HOW IS MOM DOING?
DAD
SHE WILL BE IN THE HOSPITAL ANOTHER WEEK, THEN IT WILL BE DAY TO DAY MONITORING TO SEE IF THE RADIATION AND CHEMOTHERAPY ON THIS PANCREATIC TUMOR HAS MADE SOME INROADS ON TUMOR GROWTH.
ALISON
SO WHAT ABOUT THE ROBOTIC SURGERY?
DAD
THAT WILL BE DETERMINED IF THE TUMOR RESPONDED TO THE INTRA ORGAN CHEMO AND RADIATION - WHICH SPARED THE REST OF MOM’S TISSUES.
ALISON
SO ALL THIS TREATMENT WAS HIGHLY SELECTIVE?
DAD
YES ABSOLUTELY. IF THE CANCER PHYSICIANS DID GENERAL CHEMO AND RADIATION, THEN IT WOULD BE FAIRLY 5
SCARRED INSIDE OF MOM, AND SURGERY WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT.
ALISON
SO WHY DIDN’T THEY JUST GO IN AND TAKE THIS TUMOR OUT.
DAD
THE TUMOR CELL TYPE WAS SPECIFIC FOR A TUMOR THAT COULD BE TREATED THIS WAY WITHOUT SURGERY. SURGERY HAS ITS PROBLEMS INCLUDING INFECTION, BLEEDING, PAIN, POST OP COMPLICATIONS AND FAILURE TO ACHIEVE OPTIMAL ERADICATION OF THE TUMOR. THE SELECTIVE CHEMOTHERAPY AND RADIATION ONLY WAS USED AGAINST THESE SPECIFIC PANCREATIC CELLS SURROUNDING THE TUMOR AND THE TUMOR ITSELF. THE TUMOR MAY ALL BE GONE.
ALISON
HOW WILL WE KNOW IF THIS GOD AWFUL CANCER IS GONE FROM MOM?
DAD
WE WILL NEVER KNOW. MOM WILL HAVE LOTS OF SCANS THE REST OF HER LIFE. REMEMBER IF THE TUMOR IS STILL THERE SHE’S MAYBE OFF TO MAYO CLINIC FOR ROBOTIC PANCREATIC SURGERY.
ALISON
YOU SEE DAD, I CAN NEVER LEAVE HOME. THIS ROMANCE WITH GREG WILL NEVER WORK. HE WANTS CLEVELAND AND I WANT BRECKENRIDGE. THAT IN NO WAY REALLY WORKS!
DAD
WELL I’LL LET YOU TWO WORK IT OUT. I HAVE TO GO IN SOON FOR A DELIVERY AND I’LL BE BACK LATE AFTERNOON PROBABLY. GO AHEAD AND ORDER IN IF YOU WANT. I KNOW YOU’VE GOT THE BUG FOR EARLY BOARDING.
ALISON
YES WE’RE ALL HEADED UP TO LOVELAND FOR SOME EARLY RIDING. WITH ALL THE FALL SNOW THEY HAVE A GREATER THAN 100 INCH BASE. LIFT 8 ON THE BACK SIDE HAS SOME UNGROOMED AREAS WITH 3 - 4 FEET OF POWDER.
DAD
I’D BET THAT LIFT 9 HEADING UP TO THE RIDGE WILL BE GREAT. IT JUST OPENED I HEARD. 6
ALISON
LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE HEADING BACK TO LOVELAND SKIING BECAUSE OF THE POWDER, HISTORY, OLD FASHIONED LIFTS, AND UNGROOMED WILD RUNS.
DAD
YES, I’VE HAD MANY PATIENTS HEADING OVER TO LOVELAND FOR SOME EARLY SEASON POWDER AND ELEVATION - 13,000 FEET - WELL ABOVE TREELINE.
ALISON
THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT LOVELAND IS JUST SKIING WHICH IS FINE FOR ME AND MY FRIENDS.
DAD
ACTUALLY THEY’VE REALLY WORKED HARD. THE FOOD THERE IS GREAT, THE SNOW DEPTH IS THE BEST IN THE STATE, AND IT’S A NO FRILLS, BEST DEAL FOR THE MONEY SKIING PLACE.
ALISON
YOU CERTAINLY WON’T SEE ANY HOLLYWOOD PEOPLE THERE. ONLY LOCALS GO TO LOVELAND. YOU KNOW HALF OF GEORGETOWN HAS A SEASON PASS.
DAD
HOW WAS THE ICE FISHING AT GEORGETOWN THE OTHER DAY?
ALISON
IT STARTED OUT SLOW, BUT WE FINALLY WERE ABLE TO GET SOME DECENT RAINBOWS AND BROWNS OUT OF THAT LAKE WITH OF ALL THINGS POWER BAIT. NONE OF THE SALMON EGGS WORKED. I ALREADY SKINNED AND CLEANED THE FISH. THEY ARE IN THE FREEZER. I WANT MOM TO COOK THEM -SHE’S MUCH BETTER THAN I AM AT DOMESTIC STUFF.
DAD
WHY DON’T YOU COOK THEM TONIGHT WHEN GREG COMES?
ALISON
WHAT IF I BLOW IT? MOM ALWAYS SAYS THE WAY TO A MAN’S HEART IS THROUGH HIS STOMACH.
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DAD
DEFROST THE TROUT WITH THE MICROWAVE. PLACE THEM IN SOME FOIL WITH A SMALL AMOUNT OF BUTTER ON THE GRILL AND YOU’LL BE FINE. TRUST ME.
ALISON
OK - I’LL TRY IT. IF I FLUB, IT’S ON YOU. WHAT ELSE DO I MAKE?
DAD
THERE IS CORN ON THE COB AND SOME PASTA READY TO GO. JUST KEEP THE HUSKS ON WHILE YOU GRILL THE CORN. PUT THE BUTTER ON FIRST, AND THEN REPLACE THE HUSKS BACK ONTO THE COB - COOK UNTIL LIGHTLY BROWN KERNELS.
ALISON
GOT IT. GREG JUST TEXTED. HE WON’T BE HERE UNTIL ABOUT 7 PM. HE ACTUALLY GOT A COUPLE OF CASES TODAY AND IS JUST STARTING HIS SECOND CASE - EMERGENCY AORTIC VALVE AT PORTER HOSPITAL.
DAD
THAT IS GOOD. BUSINESS IS FINALLY COMING HIS WAY.
ALISON
HE SAYS HE’S NOT ON CALL AND HIS PARTNER WHO’S ASSISTING WILL COVER HIM TONIGHT.
DAD
I’M OFF TO THE FRISCO HOSPITAL FOR A DELIVERY. THE PATIENT IS A PRIMIGRAVIDA - FIRST BIRTH - BUT IT WILL BE A FEW HOURS UNTIL SHE’S READY. ANESTHESIA IS PLACING AN EPIDURAL FOR PAIN CONTROL AS WE SPEAK.
ALISON
MY FRIENDS ARE HERE. SEE YOU LATER. LOVE YOU DAD.
DAD
NO OUT OF BOUNDS BOARDING - WE CAN STILL HAVE AVALANCHES THIS EARLY.
ALISON
GOT IT. I’M BUNDLED BUT GOOD AS IT IS WELL BELOW ZERO ON THE RIDGE WITH SOME WIND.
DAD
I SEE YOU’VE GOT A FRESHLY WAXED BOARD. 8
ALISON
END OF THE SEASON SPECIAL AT A-BASIN. $10 BUCKS, NOT BAD.
DAD
I’VE GOT TO MOVE. THE FETAL HEART MONITOR IS BEGINNING TO LOOK FUNNY, AND THE NURSES ARE SETTING UP FOR A C-SECTION IN CASE WE CRASH. SEE YOU TONIGHT.
ALISON
SCENE II: EXTERIOR. THE SCENE SHIFTS TO THE RIDGE - 13,000 PLUS FEET AT LOVELAND BASIN - WHERE ONE OF THE WORLD’S HIGHEST SKI LIFT EXISTS. IT IS BLOWING, COLD, AND A WHITE OUT ON TOP. ALISON’S FRIENDS ARE ALL THERE. ALISON
HEY GANG. HOW COOL IS THIS? ALL THIS FRESH POWDER. WHAT AN AIRDOG, JAMIE!
JAMIE
I DID AND BIFF AND BOMB ON THAT ONE. IT WAS A REAL 50/50.
ALISON
YOU HAVE REALLY PICKED UP ON THE BOARD STUFF - THIS IS A REAL FRONT TODAY. ONE CANNOT GET ANY HIGHER THAN THIS. THIS BEATS KANSAS JAMIE. DOES GREG BOARD?
JAMIE ALISON
NO HE’S GETTING OK AT SKIING. HE DOESN’T WANT TO BOARD.
JAMIE
SO WHERE IS EVERYONE GOING TONIGHT?
ALISON
I DON’T KNOW. MAYBE THE NEW PLACE IN FRISCO - WHAT’S IT CALLED?
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BACKCOUNTRY BREWERY.
JAMIE ALISON
YES. MAYBE GREG WOULDN’T MIND GOING THERE TONIGHT. HE’S COMING OVER FOR TROUT AT 7. I JUST DON’T KNOW BECAUSE DAD IS DELIVERING A BABY AND YOU KNOW HOW THAT GOES. I’M NOT A GOOD COOK. YOU CAN FAKE IT.
JAMIE ALISON
YES, THAT IS WHAT I’LL DO. CAN YOU HELP? I’M SUPPOSED TO BARBECUE THE TROUT AND ADD SWEET CORN – AND ADD PASTA. AND HOMEMADE BREAD?
JAMIE ALISON
NO WAY. I CANNOT EVEN WRESTLE THE BREAD OUT OF A LOAF. I CANNOT COOK BREAD. I’M JUST NOT DOMESTIC. I WAS IN A DORM FOR 4 YEARS AT MIDDLEBURY. I FLAT OUT DON’T COOK.
JAMIE
THAT GAL THERE IS A REAL ARCTIC CAT. HOW SO?
ALISON JAMIE
LOOK AT HER HITTING ON THAT YOUNG 20 SOMETHING BUTTING IN THE LIFT LINE TO GET ON THAT LIFT WITH A GUY 15 YEARS YOUNGER.
ALISON
HOW DO YOU KNOW SHE’S NOT A COUSIN OR FRIEND?
JAMIE
YOU DON’T PUT ON LIPSTICK AND MAKE UP IN LINE UNLESS YOU ARE MAKING A MOVE. YOU DON’T DO WITH YOUR FRIEND OR COUSIN - BELIEVE ME.
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ALISON
YOU’RE PRETTY OBSERVANT FOR A GUY.
JAMIE
I’M JUST A BOARDING BUDDY - KEEPING YOU IN LINE. YOU’VE GOT A LOT OF MAKING UP TO DO - BEING GONE FOR 4 YEARS.
ALISON
I KNOW IT FEELS SO GOOD TO BE BACK AMIDST COLORADO AND THE MOUNTAINS - WHAT A FALL - WE’VE SAILED, KAYAKED, MOUNTAIN BIKED, HIKED, FISHED, AND NOW WE ARE BOARDING.
JAMIE
YOU’VE GOT IT ALL RIGHT HERE. YOU ARE THE REAL COLORADO GIRL ALISON. YOU’RE IT!
ALISON
WELL THANKS, BUT THERE IS A TON MORE LIKE ME OUT THERE - LOOK AT THAT GAL WIPING OUT IN THE TREES DOWN THERE.
JAMIE
MY GOD THESE LIFTS AT LOVELAND ARE SLOW.
ALISON
NOT THAT SLOW. LOOK AT THE GREAT AVALANCHE,RAINBOW, AND ZOOM BOWLS. NOT IN KANSAS JAMIE. I KEEP TELLING YOU. AND A TERRAIN PARK TO BOOT.
JAMIE
I THINK I HEAR YOUR TEXT GOING OFF.
ALISON
OH IT’S GREG. HE FINISHED EARLY AND IS ON HIS WAY.
JAMIE
THAT’S COOL. TOO LATE TO SKI AT LOVELAND FOR HIM THOUGH. NOW LOOK AT THAT ARCTIC CAT AHEAD OF US. DIDN’T I TELL YOU THAT IS WHAT SHE’S UP TO?
ALISON
MY GOD THAT IS FRIGHTENING! I COULD NEVER DO THAT IN A MILLION YEARS.
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JAMIE
COUPLE MORE RUNS AND I’LL HELP YOU GET THE TROUT GOING ON YOUR GRILL. YOU’LL LOOK FAIRLY DOMESTIC BY THE TIME GREG GETS HERE. MUST HAVE SOME RED WINE AND A LIGHT APPETIZER.
ALISON
MAYBE YOU SHOULD TAKE OVER THIS DATE JAMIE.
JAMIE
WE’RE OFF - FIRST ONE DOWN WINS!
SCENE 3: INTERIOR. BACK AT THE SIZEMORE HOUSE ALISON AND JAMIE GET THE TROUT ON THE GRILL WITH ALL THE HORS D’OEUVRES AND FIXINGS. A BLINDING SNOWSTORM HAS ENTERED SUMMIT COUNTY. GREG WALKS IN COVERED WITH SNOW, AND VERY TIRED. ALISON
HEY BUDDY, HOW WAS SURGERY - SOUNDS AS IF THINGS ARE PICKING UP. FANTASTIC! NOT REALLY.
GREG ALISON
I THOUGHT YOU HAD TWO FRESH CARDIAC CASES.
GREG
I DID. GOOD REFERRALS FROM THE CARDIOLOGISTS AT THE CU MEDICAL CENTER. SO WHAT HAPPENED?
ALISON GREG
MY CREEPY SENIOR PARTNERS DID AN INSURANCE BIOPSY; AND BOTH WERE POSITIVE - SO FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, MY CASES WERE STOLEN FROM ME. SHOOT THEM BOTH! 12
ALISON
I DID WORSE. YOU DID WHAT? I QUIT.
GREG ALISON GREG ALISON
YOU QUIT! NO WAY! YOU NEVER QUIT - YOU’RE AN ALL AMERICAN ATHLETIC TYPE GUY, EAGLE SCOUT, THE WORKS...AND YOU QUIT. SO WHAT ARE YOU TO DO NOW?
GREG
I CALLED THE CLEVELAND CLINIC BETWEEN CASES AFTER THE OTHER SENIOR PARTNER JUMPED IN AND STOLE THE SECOND CASE. I WAS SCRUBBING AS A FELLOW OR SENIOR RESIDENT. GIVE THIS SOME TIME.
ALISON GREG
CLEVELAND CLINIC SAYS I CAN START NEXT WEEK. I’M STILL CREDENTIALED AND THEY HAVE CASES FOR ME. IT JUST DIDN’T WORK IN DENVER.
ALISON
SO WHAT ABOUT US? YOU KNOW I CANNOT LEAVE MY MOM - EVER. MY FAMILY IS MORE IMPORTANT TO ME THAN ANYTHING IN THE WORLD. GOD, FAMILY, GREG, AND THEN WORK. THAT’S THE ORDER.
GREG
YES I KNOW. I JUST KNOW THAT I’M A HEART SURGEON AND I CANNOT OPERATE ON HEARTS IN COLORADO.
ALISON
WHAT ABOUT THE CU MEDICAL CENTER? WON’T THEY TAKE YOU AS AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR?
GREG
YES THEY WILL. I’M ALREADY THAT. BUT THE KICKER IS THEY WANT ALL THIS TIME AND COMMITMENT BUT WON’T PAY.
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ALISON
WELL THEN GO TO THE SPRINGS!
GREG
I’VE TRIED - THEY ARE FULL AND PRACTICALLY OPERATING ON ONE ANOTHER DOWN THERE. VERY POLITICAL, HOSPITAL CONTROLLED, AND GUYS LOSE THEIR PRACTICES AND JOBS OVER NIGHT. I’VE BEEN TOLD THAT IS AN UGLY PLACE TO PRACTICE. BOTTOM LINE IS THAT I’M MOVING IN A COUPLE DAYS, HAVE A BYPASS CASE ON MONDAY IN CLEVELAND, AND I CAME TO SAY GOOD BYE. HERE COMES YOUR DAD.
DAD
HEY GREG, QUITE A STORM OUT THERE!
THE END - COLORADO GIRL III
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