Aspen Stories

Stories from the Road
January 25, 2018
Snowmass, CO.

At one time Jack Nicholson owned two homes in Aspen. They were close to each other. You might reasonably ask why? Well, he couldn't get reception for the Lakers games in his first house so he bought another. Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn each have homes here. They are a couple, but they like their space. Over the years we have seen celebrities come and go. They are usually here over the Christmas Holidays when we are elsewhere.

The Kennedy clan came every Christmas for years. There was an annual game of touch football on Aspen Mountain. The ski patrol every year told them to stop for obvious reasons. With DNA Kennedy arrogance and recklessness, they refused.

Michael Kennedy, a son of Bobby, was a gifted athlete. Bob Beattie, a former US Ski Coach, called him the most natural skier he had ever seen. Michael took up whitewater kayaking and within a short time was paddling class V water. He was divorced from Frank Gifford's daughter due to a scandal that erupted in Massachusetts, where Michael and Vicki lived. Michael had an affair with the family babysitter, who was fifteen at the time.

The last football game on skis in 1997 started like any other. Spirits were high and people were having fun. The small rubber football was passed to RFK's second oldest. He reached for it but couldn't avoid a tree and slammed into it a low rate of speed. His head injury was significant, and Michael Kennedy never regained consciousness.

Last night Bruce Wallace suggested a pizza party, which was a great idea. A group met in the lobby and shared food and drink. The midwestern guys go home this afternoon. I will try some runs after being out for a week.

45

A lot of 45 followers including Evangelical Franklin Graham seem to think you can separate "Unpresidential" and eccentric behaviour from 45's performance. But you can't. Policies and decisions emanate from core values and beliefs that are embedded in character. When 45 mocks a disabled reporter, that behaviour
is telling you something about how 45 thinks about vulnerable people. When 45 denigrates a number of countries with a crass statement, that isn't a slip of the tongue but a reflection of an attitude toward race and poverty. When 45 demeans women, that is not locker room talk but rather an attitude that reflects his belief in male superiority.

Stories from Aspen

Stories from the Road
January 24, 2018
Snowmass, CO.

Spider Sabich was a legend in the Aspen area. Growing up along the banks of the American River in California, he became a popular, charismatic, ski racer in the 1960's. Recruited by Bob Beattie, a major figure in the development of American ski racing, Spider attended the University of Colorado, a skiing force at the time.

Spider went on to win enough money on the pro tour that he bought a house next to John Denver in the Starwood section of Aspen for little money by today's standards. Injuries ended his pro career, and he and his girlfriend, Claudine Longet, the ex-wife of Andy Williams, settled down to live in Aspen. In 1976 Claudine claimed Spider was showing her how to operate his pistol when "it accidentally discharged". Spider Sabich was shot in the stomach and died from a massive loss of blood.

Local Aspenites were outraged when the judge in her trial sentenced Longet to thirty days in jail for the shooting. She was allowed to spend her time in jail on weekends so she could be with her children. Some evidence suggested, contrary to her report, that the relationship between the skier and celebrity was flawed and troubled. The situation became more incendiary when Longet vacationed with her defence attorney shortly after the trail. They eventually married and reportedly live in Aspen.

In the late 60's I was skiing with Frank Stokes either at Snowmass or Aspen Highlands. We were standing at the side of the trail when I heard a skier race over an undulation and come to a quick stop. A cameraman followed him. Wearing a classic Norweigan fisherman's sweater, Stein Erickson flashed his trademark smile, accelerated forward and disappeared around the corner.I looked at my friend and said, " Did that just happen?"

I am grounding myself again today and looking to get back on the hill tomorrow. Tonight Bruce, Kirby, and Carl are putting together a pizza party in the lobby, as they leave tomorrow. It is always fun when they are here, and I am hoping we can reunite in 2019.

Joint Replacement Surgery: You can master it!

Sooner or later you or someone close to you will be told they need a new hip, shoulder, or knee. As we live longer and want to keep active as we age, joints wear out and start to bring disabling pain. The orthopaedic

surgeons have gotten better and better with replacement techniques, and now it is hard to see why anyone disabled by a failing joint wouldn't get a new one. Here are some suggestions for managing the process effectively, so that you have a successful outcome.

1.  Talk to your surgeon, get on the schedule, and understand what your part will be in having a successful procedure.
2.  Get in shape the best you can before your surgery. If you can't walk a lot, perhaps you can swim.
3.  Try to go to a meeting that features a discussion by people who have had the surgery. Learn what to expect.
4.  Buy, rent, or borrow the equipment you will need such as crutches, a walker, or a portable toilet.
5.  Plan to go to a rehab facility if you don't have sufficient help at home following your surgery.
6.  Show appreciation to your caregivers in the hospital to optimize your care.
7.  Once home, work with your physical and occupational therapists to move your recovery along.
8.  Set short and long-term goals for your recovery. Make sure it is a step by step process with realistic goals and benchmarks.
9.  Frame the process in positive terms. For example, you are overcoming adversity. You are improving your well being.
10. Reward yourself along the way.
11. Bring in community support from your circle of friends and family.

By framing the surgical and recovery process in positive terms and by having a well-crafted plan for short and long-term goals, you will maximize your chances of a successful and meaningful experience.