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COLORADO GIRLCHAPTER III: “ WIPEOUT”

AMIDST THE FRIGID SNOW CAPPED ROCKY MOUNTAINS LIVES THE COLORADO GIRL. RETURNING HOME FOLLOW-ING GRADUATION FROM MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE IN VER-MONT, 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 BOARD-ING.

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 COUN-TY 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 SO-CIALIZE. SHE ALSO ENJOYS MICRO BREWS FROM THE BRECK-ENRIDGE BREWERY.

WHILE RELISHING HER RETURN HOME, ALISON FACES A MA-JOR 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 RE-CENTLY FINISHED HIS FELLOWSHIP AT THE CLEVELAND CLINIC IN OHIO.

IF YOU LOVE DRAMA, MOUNTAIN SPORTS, THE 20 SOME-THING LIFESTYLE, AND VALUE HOW CLOSE A FAMILY CAN BE, THEN “COLORADO GIRL” WILL BOTH INSPIRE AND CHAL-LENGE.

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SCENE I:

INTERIOR. SIZEMORE HOUSE IN FRISCO WITH DAD AND ALISON DISCUSSING THE UPCOMING DAY.

ALISONHEY DAD, MAY WE INVITE GREG OVER FOR SUPPER TONIGHT?

DADYES OF COURSE.

ALISONWHAT TIME?

DADLET’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.

ALISONDO YOU LIKE GREG?

DADYES, HE’S GREAT. DO WE NEED TO TALK?

ALISONYES I THINK SO.

DADOK, I’M ALL FOR A WEDDING IF THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE GET-TING AT. IT SEEMS A FAIRLY SHORT RELATIONSHIP. REMEM-BER YOU HAVE TO BE SURE ABOUT EACH OTHER.

ALISONHOW DO YOU EVER KNOW FOR CERTAIN HE IS THE RIGHT GUY?

DADWHEN YOU CANNOT BE APART.

ALISONSOUNDS LIKE US.

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DADYOUR MOM HAS MENTIONED THAT ALL YOUR FRIENDS HAVE NOTICED A REAL CHANGE IN YOU SINCE GREG ARRIVED.

ALISONHOW SO?

DADINSTEAD OF KAYAKING, MOUNTAIN CLIMBING, MOUNTAIN BIKING, AND YES, EVEN FISHING THIS SUMMER - YOU WERE OUT WITH GREG.

ALISONBUT 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.

DADBUT HE MET YOU THROUGH ALL THIS.

ALISONGREG’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.

DADI UNDERSTAND ALL THAT. SOME PRACTICES JUST TAKE TIME. AND GREG’S PRACTICE IS NO DIFFERENT. IT WILL TAKE TIME.

ALISONMAYBE YOU AND GREG SHOULD TALK. I MEAN A TON OF TALKING. HE THINKS HE’S ON HIS WAY TO STARVATION.

DADIF HE’S A GOOD CARDIOTHORACIC SURGEON, HE’LL DO WELL. WITH HIS MOONLIGHTING AT THE UNIVERSITY, WORD WILL GET AROUND.

ALISONWELL HE ONLY REALLY IS HANGING AROUND HERE BECAUSE OF ME.

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DADTHAT’S INTERESTING. SO WHAT IF HE PROPOSES AND THE PACKAGE DEAL IS FOR YOU TO MOVE TO CLEVELAND?

ALISONTHAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED. I HAVE ZERO DESIRE TO LIVE IN CLEVELAND - NOTHING AGAINST CLEVELAND, BUT IT’S NOT SUMMIT COUNTY, COLORADO.

DADI’LL LET YOU TWO WORK THIS OUT.

ALISONIN 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.

DADI THINK GREG WILL NEED TO MAKE SOME LONG TERM CA-REER DECISIONS.

ALISONI AGREE. SO HOW IS MOM DOING?

DADSHE 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.

ALISONSO WHAT ABOUT THE ROBOTIC SURGERY?

DADTHAT WILL BE DETERMINED IF THE TUMOR RESPONDED TO THE INTRA ORGAN CHEMO AND RADIATION - WHICH SPARED THE REST OF MOM’S TISSUES.

ALISONSO ALL THIS TREATMENT WAS HIGHLY SELECTIVE?

DADYES ABSOLUTELY. IF THE CANCER PHYSICIANS DID GEN-ERAL CHEMO AND RADIATION, THEN IT WOULD BE FAIRLY

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SCARRED INSIDE OF MOM, AND SURGERY WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT.

ALISONSO WHY DIDN’T THEY JUST GO IN AND TAKE THIS TUMOR OUT.

DADTHE 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 OPTI-MAL ERADICATION OF THE TUMOR. THE SELECTIVE CHEMO-THERAPY AND RADIATION ONLY WAS USED AGAINST THESE SPECIFIC PANCREATIC CELLS SURROUNDING THE TUMOR AND THE TUMOR ITSELF. THE TUMOR MAY ALL BE GONE.

ALISONHOW WILL WE KNOW IF THIS GOD AWFUL CANCER IS GONE FROM MOM?

DADWE 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 PANCRE-ATIC SURGERY.

ALISONYOU 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!

DADWELL 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.

ALISONYES 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.

DADI’D BET THAT LIFT 9 HEADING UP TO THE RIDGE WILL BE GREAT. IT JUST OPENED I HEARD.

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ALISONLOTS OF PEOPLE ARE HEADING BACK TO LOVELAND SKIING BECAUSE OF THE POWDER, HISTORY, OLD FASHIONED LIFTS, AND UNGROOMED WILD RUNS.

DADYES, I’VE HAD MANY PATIENTS HEADING OVER TO LOVELAND FOR SOME EARLY SEASON POWDER AND ELEVATION - 13,000 FEET - WELL ABOVE TREELINE.

ALISONTHE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT LOVELAND IS JUST SKIING WHICH IS FINE FOR ME AND MY FRIENDS.

DADACTUALLY 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.

ALISONYOU CERTAINLY WON’T SEE ANY HOLLYWOOD PEOPLE THERE. ONLY LOCALS GO TO LOVELAND. YOU KNOW HALF OF GEORGETOWN HAS A SEASON PASS.

DADHOW WAS THE ICE FISHING AT GEORGETOWN THE OTHER DAY?

ALISONIT 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.

DADWHY DON’T YOU COOK THEM TONIGHT WHEN GREG COMES?

ALISONWHAT IF I BLOW IT? MOM ALWAYS SAYS THE WAY TO A MAN’S HEART IS THROUGH HIS STOMACH.

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DADDEFROST 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.

ALISONOK - I’LL TRY IT. IF I FLUB, IT’S ON YOU. WHAT ELSE DO I MAKE?

DADTHERE 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.

ALISONGOT 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 AOR-TIC VALVE AT PORTER HOSPITAL.

DADTHAT IS GOOD. BUSINESS IS FINALLY COMING HIS WAY.

ALISONHE SAYS HE’S NOT ON CALL AND HIS PARTNER WHO’S ASSIST-ING WILL COVER HIM TONIGHT.

DADI’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.

ALISONMY FRIENDS ARE HERE. SEE YOU LATER. LOVE YOU DAD.

DADNO OUT OF BOUNDS BOARDING - WE CAN STILL HAVE AVA-LANCHES THIS EARLY.

ALISONGOT IT. I’M BUNDLED BUT GOOD AS IT IS WELL BELOW ZERO ON THE RIDGE WITH SOME WIND.

DADI SEE YOU’VE GOT A FRESHLY WAXED BOARD.

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ALISONEND OF THE SEASON SPECIAL AT A-BASIN. $10 BUCKS, NOT BAD.

DADI’VE GOT TO MOVE. THE FETAL HEART MONITOR IS BEGIN-NING TO LOOK FUNNY, AND THE NURSES ARE SETTING UP FOR A C-SECTION IN CASE WE CRASH.

ALISONSEE YOU TONIGHT.

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.

ALISONHEY GANG. HOW COOL IS THIS? ALL THIS FRESH POWDER. WHAT AN AIRDOG, JAMIE!

JAMIEI DID AND BIFF AND BOMB ON THAT ONE. IT WAS A REAL 50/50.

ALISONYOU 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.

JAMIEDOES GREG BOARD?

ALISONNO HE’S GETTING OK AT SKIING. HE DOESN’T WANT TO BOARD.

JAMIESO WHERE IS EVERYONE GOING TONIGHT?

ALISONI DON’T KNOW. MAYBE THE NEW PLACE IN FRISCO - WHAT’S IT CALLED?

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JAMIEBACKCOUNTRY BREWERY.

ALISONYES. 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.

JAMIEYOU CAN FAKE IT.

ALISONYES, THAT IS WHAT I’LL DO. CAN YOU HELP? I’M SUPPOSED TO BARBECUE THE TROUT AND ADD SWEET CORN – AND ADD PASTA.

JAMIEAND HOMEMADE BREAD?

ALISONNO 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.

JAMIETHAT GAL THERE IS A REAL ARCTIC CAT.

ALISONHOW SO?

JAMIELOOK AT HER HITTING ON THAT YOUNG 20 SOMETHING - BUTTING IN THE LIFT LINE TO GET ON THAT LIFT WITH A GUY 15 YEARS YOUNGER.

ALISONHOW DO YOU KNOW SHE’S NOT A COUSIN OR FRIEND?

JAMIEYOU DON’T PUT ON LIPSTICK AND MAKE UP IN LINE UN-LESS YOU ARE MAKING A MOVE. YOU DON’T DO WITH YOUR FRIEND OR COUSIN - BELIEVE ME.

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ALISONYOU’RE PRETTY OBSERVANT FOR A GUY.

JAMIEI’M JUST A BOARDING BUDDY - KEEPING YOU IN LINE. YOU’VE GOT A LOT OF MAKING UP TO DO - BEING GONE FOR 4 YEARS.

ALISONI KNOW IT FEELS SO GOOD TO BE BACK AMIDST COLORADO AND THE MOUNTAINS - WHAT A FALL - WE’VE SAILED, KAY-AKED, MOUNTAIN BIKED, HIKED, FISHED, AND NOW WE ARE BOARDING.

JAMIEYOU’VE GOT IT ALL RIGHT HERE. YOU ARE THE REAL COLO-RADO GIRL ALISON. YOU’RE IT!

ALISONWELL THANKS, BUT THERE IS A TON MORE LIKE ME OUT THERE - LOOK AT THAT GAL WIPING OUT IN THE TREES DOWN THERE.

JAMIEMY GOD THESE LIFTS AT LOVELAND ARE SLOW.

ALISONNOT 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.

JAMIEI THINK I HEAR YOUR TEXT GOING OFF.

ALISONOH IT’S GREG. HE FINISHED EARLY AND IS ON HIS WAY.

JAMIETHAT’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?

ALISONMY GOD THAT IS FRIGHTENING! I COULD NEVER DO THAT IN A MILLION YEARS.

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JAMIECOUPLE 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.

ALISONMAYBE YOU SHOULD TAKE OVER THIS DATE JAMIE.

JAMIEWE’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 SUM-MIT COUNTY. GREG WALKS IN COVERED WITH SNOW, AND VERY TIRED.

ALISONHEY BUDDY, HOW WAS SURGERY - SOUNDS AS IF THINGS ARE PICKING UP. FANTASTIC!

GREGNOT REALLY.

ALISONI THOUGHT YOU HAD TWO FRESH CARDIAC CASES.

GREGI DID. GOOD REFERRALS FROM THE CARDIOLOGISTS AT THE CU MEDICAL CENTER.

ALISONSO WHAT HAPPENED?

GREGMY CREEPY SENIOR PARTNERS DID AN INSURANCE BIOPSY; AND BOTH WERE POSITIVE - SO FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, MY CASES WERE STOLEN FROM ME.

ALISONSHOOT THEM BOTH!

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GREGI DID WORSE.

ALISONYOU DID WHAT?

GREGI QUIT.

ALISONYOU 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?

GREGI 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.

ALISONGIVE THIS SOME TIME.

GREGCLEVELAND CLINIC SAYS I CAN START NEXT WEEK. I’M STILL CREDENTIALED AND THEY HAVE CASES FOR ME. IT JUST DIDN’T WORK IN DENVER.

ALISONSO 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.

GREGYES I KNOW. I JUST KNOW THAT I’M A HEART SURGEON AND I CANNOT OPERATE ON HEARTS IN COLORADO.

ALISONWHAT ABOUT THE CU MEDICAL CENTER? WON’T THEY TAKE YOU AS AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR?

GREGYES 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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ALISONWELL THEN GO TO THE SPRINGS!

GREGI’VE TRIED - THEY ARE FULL AND PRACTICALLY OPERATING ON ONE ANOTHER DOWN THERE. VERY POLITICAL, HOSPI-TAL 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 COU-PLE DAYS, HAVE A BYPASS CASE ON MONDAY IN CLEVELAND, AND I CAME TO SAY GOOD BYE. HERE COMES YOUR DAD.

DADHEY GREG, QUITE A STORM OUT THERE!

THE END - COLORADO GIRL III