Tuesday was a coolish October afternoon, on the cusp of the season’s first snow, when Enedina and I met up with Mark in Boulder to commemorate his 46th birthday–which actually is today (10.27.11). I made the drive up from Pueblo and Enedina, down from Greeley.
It had been awhile since I had been to Boulder to see Mark. He’s been putting his Ph.D to work at the University of Colorado for over a year now. This past summer he landed a very cool apartment in a beautiful neighborhood a few blocks just north of Pearl Street, not terribly far from the “Mork and Mindy” house. It’d been awhile since I’d seen Enedina too, perhaps just the second time since she enrolled at the University of Northern Colorado last August. Let’s just call it a mini-reunion.
We rendezvoused at the apartment early afternoon then kicked off the early birthday with a string of small events that included a quick bite to eat at a brew pub down on Pearl Street, a short hike up at Chautauqua where Mark and Enedina ascended one of the Flat Irons, a sushi dinner at Japango (where I made futile efforts to eat with chopsticks), then coffee afterward at Starbucks to cap it all off, as a light, steady rain began to fall.
It was a fun time. We caught up on some family news, solved a few of the world’s ills, and wondered at the beauty of autumn in Boulder. And of course, there were flurries of sarcasm throughout the afternoon/evening.
Wanting to get in front the incoming weather, Enedina left for home shortly after leaving Starbucks. Mark and I played a few games of backgammon and about the time we decided to watch John Carpenter’s “They Live,” Enedina was getting home. She had to deal with blowing snow by the time she got back to Greeley. Wednesday morning, we woke to eight inches of snow in Boulder; as much, if not more in Greeley. The place was transformed.
After a killer breakfast at Snooze’s, Mark and I walked back to his apartment and gathered our respective stuff. I gave him a lift over to campus before heading out of town and back to the Steel City. A short but sweet trek if there ever was.
Happy Birthday, Marco!
I throughly enjoyed the opportunity to hang out with Michael, Mark and Enedina in Boulder. Indeed, a very happy birthday to Mark and how nice you were able to head up there. I like how Enedina has come to accept that Mike will be forever filming, shooting, and documenting events and people, as she tolerates his obsession/enthusiasm, with his newest devices and keen eye. Michael, you create beautiful art with your talents and it just so happens, the subjects are individuals who mean the world to me. Thank you Michael. Love you all. Anne Marie
This was fantastic! The only problem is that I couldn’t chime in with my witty comments. I miss you all so much! I need to get my booty to Colorado asap for another reunion. Afterwards you can publish “Hanging with the Postdoc, the Grad, and the Undergrad.” Love you all!