Latest News – January 11

Twenty-Five Years: Celebrating A Life In The ‘Ville

Today is my Silver Anniversary in the Silver City.  Yes, it was exactly 25 years ago today – January 11, 1990 – that I officially moved to Leadville, Colorado. 

As the anniversary date drew closer, I wondered how I might celebrate the occasion, especially as a writer.  I started going through my trunk of journals. Certainly, the stories I’ve recorded over the past 25 years would make for some good anniversary musings.  However, the task of reading through and selecting certain ones, seemed insurmountable. Until yesterday, when a friend suggested I write a “Top 25 Things You Might Not Know about Kathy Bedell” list.

Her suggestion resonated and I felt like it was something that I could actually accomplish by the end of the day. I placed a piece of paper and pen out on my desk, and went about my day, feeling confident that the list, would basically write itself.

The first few items came fast and easy. The others maybe not so much. I had decided early on in the process, that I was not going to screen any items that came to mind on the first round.

Hmmm, should I really be sharing THAT with people?  Guess I’ll find out.

“Top 25 Things You Might Not Know about Kathy Bedell”

1. Born and raised in New York.
2. Middle child of five.
3. First woman to run for Mayor of Leadville, Colorado.
4. Interviewed Oprah Winfrey.
5. Served on the Parkville Water Board for nearly 8 years.
6. Own a 1974 bright orange VW Bus called “The Great Pumpkin.”
7. Attended the University of Denver on scholarship, receiving a BA in Communications.
8. Me hablo espanol.
9. Won a Colorado Press Association award for best serious column (In The ‘Ville) and newspaper advertising design.
10. Took an 800 mile bus trip up the Baja Peninsula on a Mexican bus line after translating for a group of doctors called the Flying Samaritans.
11. First job out of college: Writing for Colorado woman’s magazine.
12. Made a cameo appearance in the Leadville Trail 100 movie, “Race Across the Sky,” also included in credits.
13. Never married, no children.
14. Lived on the island of Saint Lucia in Marigot Bay where they filmed parts of the movie, “Dr. Doolitte.”
15. Substitute teacher in the Lake County School District for seven years, a.k.a. “Miss Bedell.”
16. Hitch-hiking housekeeper from hell at Copper Mountain for four months.
17. Irish Catholic.
18. Sponsored 20^th century socialite writer Caroline Bancroft in the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame, years before even knowing Leadville would be part of my future.
19. Survived category-five Hurricane Luis on the island of Anguilla.
20. Wrote a Leadville eulogy in the form of a limerick.
21. Cat person.
22. First job in Leadville: Advertising Manager for the Herald Democrat.
23. Attended movie premieres with Lance Armstrong, Levi Lepenheimer and Rebecca Rusch.
24. Don’t own a bike.
25. Grateful everyday for having “stumbled” upon this magical mountain town. Can’t think of a day when I have ever taken that incredible view for granted. Blessed to be able to write about and live In The ‘Ville for 25 years.