I took a big risk returning to Colorado in the winter. I have been coming here every year once or twice a year to visit my grandmother and my cousins for the past 16 years, ever since my mother died, but always between May and September. Until last year, I came in the winter because my grandmother almost died and I got stuck here due to weather.

I had to come this year because one of my cousins just had a baby and as she is a single mom and doesn’t have any close family that can assist her. She had a terrible childhood and without parents, (mother was in and out of mental institiutions and father disappeared) my mother helped out as much as she could, as did my grandmother. Since my mom died and my grandmother is now 90, I have been trying to help her out, and treat her as if she were a sister.

So I came back to Colorado in the winter to meet my new neice and try to give my cousin a little love and support. But, we had a snow storm today!  So the risk I took today was driving in the snow in a small rent a car. I made it around okay.

Hopefully, I will get home tomorrow on my plane okay and not get stuck like last time.

Anita Horsley lives in Eugene, OR with her life partner of 9 years. She works for the Oregon State Fire Marshal office as a training & development specialist and was a firefighter for 10 years prior to that. She won the World Champion firefighter combat challenge in 2005 in addition to the State and National championship 2004-2006. She loves the outdoors, running in the woods with her dogs and traveling. Visit Anita's website.
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