In the works since last summer, the long-anticipated get together of Eunice Ann Ball and her offspring came to pass, Colorado Springs, March 27 – 31. With a diagnosis over a year ago of Stage 4 lung cancer, a gathering of the clan was conceived, to rejoice with her while she is still with us. This is the account of her son-in-law, Lucy’s partner, John Lowry.
Selected photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/wrinkles45/SannyUnion308
And Lucy’s perspective: http://picasaweb.google.com/wrinkles45/SannyUnionLucyS
Lucy, Nate, Kate, Rick, 6-month old Juliet and I caught a late flight out of Seattle on Thursday evening. We rendezvoused with Dustin at the Denver airport and climbed in to a couple of rental cars, arriving at Arran & Shawnee’s in the wee hours of Friday morning. We were up and on the move by mid-morning. Perhaps skiing and boarding should not have been taken off the agenda, as our tee time at the Air Force Academy for late morning had to be cancelled due to a frozen course. Our consolation was a driving range in 33-degree temperature, without wind chill consideration, ending in a putting contest on a fast putting green, won by Arran.
Meanwhile, Friday the women folk and children took the cog rail train http://www.cograilway.com/ to the top of 14,110 ft. Pike’s Peak. While the train climbed out of the cloud cover in to bright sunshine, it was windy and bighting cold at the summit. Several reported intoxication from the altitude. Sanny was given a shirt proclaiming her summit of Pike’s Peak without oxygen.
Besides the Lowrys, Arran and Shawnee’s 6500 sf home easily accommodated Sanny. It’s tucked away in a hillside wild enough to be habitat for lots of deer, a family of fox at times and an occasional bear. Mary stayed with John and Amanda. They have been house sitting, waiting to close on their home north of Colorado Springs.
After a pizza feed, Friday night we hit the in-house pool at Arran and Shawnee’s. Cannonballs and keep away. Great fun. Movie time at the in-house theater later in the evening. Interspersed with the camaraderie and the wonderful food, the trampoline was a playful adjunct.
After Rick cooked a killer breakfast, Saturday some went shopping in artsy Manitou Springs while others took a scenic drive up in to the Rockies, to gamble at Cripple Creek. With veterans Shawnee and Arran, I braved the hold ‘em table, winning 3 hands before ending up out of chips. Big winner? Sanny--$190 at a penny slot!! We resumed gambling that evening with a hold ‘em tournament. While out of her element (slots), Sanny played well, winning some big hands before going out 3rd, just out of the money. Finalists were John H and John L, with some close all-ins, stacks of chips moving back and forth. Finally, my pocket Jacks went all-in against John Huckstep’s Ace and 4. The flop included an Ace, favoring the younger John. But, the River was a Jack, giving me the win!
Sunday: picture day at Garden of the Gods, an area of spectacular rocks. Shawnee’s friend, a photographer, met us there and took lots of pics, while we amateurs snapped away as well.
John and Amanda’s purchase closed on Friday. After the photo shoot, Sunday afternoon we got a preview of their beautiful new home, in a great neighborhood of long-needled pines, a walking trail alongside.
Arran, Nate, John and John played some volleyball early Sunday evening, getting home in time for Rick’s chicken parmesan and the final hold ‘em tournament. Sanny again played well, going out 4th. I was chip leader for a while, before Rick took me out, only to be defeated by Arran.
While cool in the mornings, the weather became increasingly nice. We were able to get in the round of golf at the Air Force Academy on Monday. We considered Arran, Dustin and John playing best ball against Nate, but ended up playing our own ball, for better and worse. We all had our moments of greatness. Nate was disappointed to drive over the dogleg on one 4-par, ending up on the fringe, only to settle for par after 3-putting.
It was a special weekend. The children—Pax, Caden, McCoy, Jenna, Mason and Juliet—got along wonderfully. We are a generous, thoughtful, intelligent, observant, energetic, ambitious, fun-loving bunch. Qualities that rubbed off from the gal that brought us together. Thanks, Sanny.
