Our Son - STOWN EVEREST!!!

Stown is a typical 12 1/2 year old boy, always goofing off for the camera! He's the most wonderful son a parent could hope for and has such a vivid imagination. An incredibly intelligent kid who can converse with adults then turn around and do something so childlike you want to pull your hair out. He's tall, taking after his mother, so there are times you forget he's only a kid. He's very responsible for his age and therefore is given quite a bit of rope to hang himself if he chooses. Stown lives with his father in Lakewood California and comes here to visit us for holidays and summer vacation. Jim and I love having him here and showing him all the outdoor activities that Colorado has to offer. This past summer we went camping in the high country outside of Silverton for a couple of nights to escape the craziness of town over the 4th of July weekend.

Stown was a trooper! He carried all his own gear - tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, clothes and water. Jim and I split up the cookware and food. Remembering that Stown lives basically at sea level and we were hiking up over 12,000 feet, we didn't want to make it miserable for the kid. We hiked slow, taking rest breaks and snacking along the way. We made our way up the mountain in a slow but steady pace, until we came to a place to break camp just before a nasty wind and rain storm blew in. We all huddled into Stown's tent to pass the time playing "Pass the Pigs". After the storm moved on we went out to explore, play and collect snow to melt for water.


Stown was impressed with the amount of snow still around in July. After an early dinner, he build a Snow Goddess. Decorating her with wild flowers and a grass skirt, she stood strong against the night. Like a protector, she watched over our camp while we slept, then began to melt away in the morning sun.

On the last day, we headed back to the truck where we had left our snowboarding gear. Jim hiked up to a long chute to get a good steep run in. Stown, the dogs and I stayed low to catch more shorter runs. As Stown laced up Doug stood guard, then would follow him down the mountain loping through the snow until they both crashed.

Stown had a great summer in 2008. We also went to the Grand Canyon and spend time with friends in Big Bear Lake California. Stown took kayak lessons here in Durango on the Animas river for two weeks and got his first job. He worked for a local Old West Photography studio, where he would dress up and pass out fliers on the sidewalk. While Jim and I worked during the day, Stown was free to "roam" town. He had a pass to the local rec. center, his bike and his cell phone. He was responsible for keeping in touch with us and being at one of our offices at certain times of the day. Stown made sure he was never late to work and was always accountable for his where abouts. We are fortunate that Durango is such a kid friendly town and everything is connected by a beautiful bike path. Stown has thought about the idea of moving here to live with us. He is his own person and we respect his choices. He has experienced more freedom and responsibility during his visits here than he does back in the city in California. Stown is fast becoming a young man and growing into himself. He will soon make choices that we as parents may not agree with but need to try to understand and be supportive of. It is our job to give him guidance and provide him with the means necessary to make educated decisions, not crucify him for making what we may see as the wrong choice.

Unfortunately, our situation it seems to be the story of the country mouse and the city mouse. Each place has something to offer, it is just deciding which you like better. As for Jim and I, we will always be country mice.