Colorado is just made for White Christmas memories. It’s polar opposite the Diamond Beach Christmas’s of the past, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. It does take some getting used to, and heavy clothing is required, unlike bathing suits of the past:) The dry crisp air, especially under sunny skies, is actually refreshing, and there is so much to do. Fair warning: just about everything requires some strenuous physical exercise. The good news is, most activities are outdoors, for those who worry about the continuing COVID contagion. Of course, skiing was in the cards for us, and Granby Ski School turned out to be so much more than we expected. The warmth and friendliness of the instructors were beyond anything we expected. We later found out the Bode Miller (Olympic gold medal Alpine Skier) is setting up a special ski school there next year, to offer both academic and athletic instruction at its finest.

However, the first day the Austin Wilcox’s arrived we headed down to the Clear Creek Trail of Golden. This allowed the Texans time to get acclimatized to the altitude. The edges of the creek are frozen this time of year, but when the sun is out you barely need a light jacket, so everyone was comfortable. Laura, the family photographer, provided many of the high-quality shots you see. It was difficult to imagine that a few short months ago folks were floating down Clear Creek in an inner tube. The young ones enjoyed the “exercise stops” along the way, and showed some gymnastic skill that surprised their Mamou (that’s me:) They certainly didn’t get it from my side of the family, though.

To get our sea legs back on the slopes, we took the kids to Grand Lake for a locally famous sledding hill. Even the youngest, Bo and Hanna, enjoyed this experience. We had no idea how very special Grand Lake is. It’s a quaint picture-postcard downtown worthy of a Hallmark movie. We honestly didn’t want to leave, but needed to rest for the skiing ahead.

After some wonderful snow-filled time in the Rockies, we headed back to Golden for the usual Christmas experiences. While Galveston does a wonderful Christmas Light Festival for evening walking, evenings in Golden are a bit chilly for the faint-hearted. Never fear, American ingenuity has provided a very comfortable solution. There was an amazing drive-through light display, to be seen from the comfort of your heated car.

While all these adventures were amazing memories that I will never forget, the best is always family time sharing the joy that is Christmas. With a fire crackling nearby, we shared the gifts that we hoped would be enjoyed. Just listening to the little ones giggle over their prizes made the best memories of all. Maybe next year Mamou will have a cabin near Bode’s new ski school, Good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise!