Crews & views — Lung Story Short...

Yesterday we headed to Boulder for the day. The weather was perfect! The mountains on our drive in were so crisp (like crispy chicken - Rima's input). It was as if we could have reached out and touched them. We picked up one of Rima's good friends Hassan, they went to college together, he is a delightful human being! We made a quick pit stop to one of the most beautiful greenhouses I had ever been too. On our way there Dennis said "Laima, when was the last time you were in a greenhouse with Rima? She goes nuts!". Rima, started to laugh and then cackled like she was planning something sinister. "Don't worry I'm leaving my wallet in the car" she got out between the smiggles.

I, did not leave my wallet in the car. This place was insane! I felt as if we had walked into a Disney version of what a greenhouse would be. So many tropical plants, little pathways leading you to hidden corners with unheard of species of greenery. The succulent section had my undivided attention for quite sometime. I succumbed and purchased one. Rima named him Sven. Don't ask, just go along with it.

After, the four of us, Rima, Dennis, Hassan, and I made the ascent up to Flagstaff. One of the mountains in Boulder that you can either drive, bike, walk or hike up. We took the first option of course and drove up. Rima is on oxygen 24/7, so hiking up a mountain will just have to wait till after she gets new airbags. The drive up is quite something to behold. Hairpin turns up three-quarters of the mountain. With each pass up you get a more expansive view of what's falling below you. Boulder and the surrounding towns become flat pancakes on the horizon. It's hard to decide what to look at. The earth below you, trees sprouting up between boulders and rock formations, or the countless bikers giving us slight heart attacks as we swerve around them.

We drove up to the top and parked at "Lost Gulch Overlook". This is probably our favorite spot to get out at Flagstaff. There was still a good amount of snow on the ground, melting under the Sunday sun. The four of us made our way to the outlook point weaving through mud, snow and puddles. Such fresh air! The wind had a reviving quality to it, being so high up and open. We took perch at the edge of the rock formations and set our eyes on the mountains. It's quite a magnificent view. The mountains scraping the horizon were covered in snow. Reaching as far left and right that we could see. We just sat and soaked in all that we could.

After a while the wind got to our bones so we made our way back to the car and descended the mountain. We then headed to our Colorado second family's home for dinner. Connie and Mark, who have been friends with our Mother since before we came into existence. They are one of the most welcoming and loving people we have had the pleasure to call our friends and family. From housing us year after year of visits, to taking in my friends and I in cross country road trips, to visiting Rima in the hospital. We had such a lovely time with them at dinner. Connie and Mark outdid themselves with appetizers, dinner and a lemon blueberry cake to end the evening with. I almost had to roll Rima to the car!