Twenty-Nine and Holding: My Leadville Life

Celebrating 29 Years in Leadville Today
By Kathy Bedell, Leadville Today
This month marks twenty-nine years for my life in Leadville. One of the cool things about being a writer is that I can reach into my steamer-trunk filled with journals dating back to when I was 13 years old and read directly from that day, the moment when I knew that Leadville would be my home.
For how long? Who knew, but I wouldn’t have guessed I’d still be here nearly three decades later. But alas, that can be the charm of the Magic City. And when I read back on some of the stories I’ve written over the more than a quarter century of reporting on the people and happenings In The ‘Ville, it makes me smile. People often say I should publish a book with those stories, and one day I might.
But for now, I’m going to share the “Top 25 Things You Might Not Know about Kathy Bedell” list. Interesting or not, it’s a good filler as I make my way back to Leadville after a Copyright Law and Fair Use workshop. Maybe I’m getting a bit closer to that book than I thought.
“Top 25 Things You Might Not Know about Kathy Bedell”
- Moved to Leadville January 11, 1990.
- Born and raised in New York.
- Middle child of five.
- First woman to run for Mayor of Leadville, Colorado.
- Interviewed Oprah Winfrey.
- Served on the Parkville Water Board for 8 years.
- Own a 1974 bright orange VW Bus called “The Great Pumpkin.”
- Attended the University of Denver, received a BA in Communications.
- Me hablo Espanol.
- Colorado Press Association award-winner for best serious column and newspaper advertising design.
- 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.
- First job out of college: Writing for Colorado woman’s magazine.
- Made a cameo appearance in the 2009 Leadville Trail 100 movie, “Race Across the Sky,” also included in credits.
- Never married, no children.
- Lived on the island of Saint Lucia in Marigot Bay where they filmed parts of the movie, “Dr. Doolitte.”
- A substitute teacher in the Lake County School District for seven years, a.k.a. “Miss Bedell.”
- Hitch-hiking housekeeper from hell at Copper Mountain for four months.
- Irish Catholic.
- Sponsored 20th-century socialite writer Caroline Bancroft in the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame.
- Survived category-five Hurricane Luis on the island of Anguilla.
- Wrote a Leadville eulogy in the form of a limerick.
- Cat person.
- First job in Leadville: Advertising Manager for the Herald Democrat.
- Didn’t buy my first car until 34.
- Don’t own a bike.
I am grateful every day for having “stumbled” upon this magical mountain town. I can’t think of a day when I have ever taken that incredible view for granted. I am blessed to be able to write about, and live, In The ‘Ville.
Journalist Kathy Bedell owns The Great Pumpkin, LLC a digital media company in Leadville, Colorado which publishes Leadville Today and Saguache Today. She may be reached at info@leadvilletoday.com