Robert Burkett

 Steamboat Springs first 8 years

I have been trying to write chronologically but I am now convinced I should just try highlights to try to make more progress! I'm not sure I mentioned that Ellen was born in Steamboat Springs. When we met she was working for Borden's Dairy on Wazee street in Denver. Her dad was a rancher, never owning his own ranch but doing a fine job with others. When Ellen was little she went to a one room school until she entered high school. When little she road a horse to school. I can't imagine a six year old girl today who could do that! As a funny (strange) side note: she was born in the same building that later became the high school from which she graduated. It also was 3 blocks from our motel on 7th street. When she started high school she had to work for her room and board to be in school. The ranch which they were in was too far and hazardous for buses. At that time her folks were managing a ranch owned by a fellow named Barby, who owned the apparel company Vanity Fair. He died and they were forced to move to the ranch at which they lived when Ellen and I met. She is the oldest of 8 and I am in the middle of 8, although one of my older brothers did not survive childhood. So, about the only thing we had in common was a big family. Mine was 7 boys one girl, hers 4 and 4. The one thing that I think has kept us together all these years is Ellen's extreme patience and her love of children. Let's just say I was never voted father of the year, but I do love all my 5 children and have the greatest respect for each of them.

When we arrived in Steamboat Springs we brought 4 of our children. Our son Chris stayed back in California to graduate from high school (Have I already mentioned that?)

Even though we struggled financially for the 8 years we owned the motel they were great years and we made the most of them. We travelled to Hawaii for our 22nd anniversary (1979). We had planned to wait for 25 but my friend Mike was anxious. We bought a book, See Hawaii on $10 a day. It was the best buy ever. We spent a week in Oahu and a week on Maui. Amazingly the place we rented on Oahu was on Diamondhead with a private beach, our own kitchen and fresh fruit every day. I think we were some of the last tourists to visit as it was just too valuable to leave as cottages. Talk about perfect, WOW! Our nearest neighbor was the actor Michael Landon. All this for $22 a day per couple. Even in 1979 that is a bargain. We swam, we played golf (at a $9/round on a local course once) and ate and drank our way through Honolulu. We toured Pearl Harbor which is both sad and beautiful. We hated to leave and go to Maui but we had reservations. We rented a 2 bedroom condo in Lahaina again for $20/night per couple. Sadly most of that is gone due to a firestorm. While there, the actor Buddy Epson was filming. I understand the Banyan tree where the filming took place survived the fire. As per our Oahu stay we played golf and had a great time. We rented cars in both places and toured, not including the rain forest. We did however go the summit of the tallest volcano on Oahu where it was cold. I stated I didn't come to Hawaii to freeze so we didn't stay long. It was a great vacation even though we came back to snow (in May for cryin out loud!)

For our 25th anniversary we all went on a cruise (Our friends and us again). We opted for NCL cruse line and the cruise was very nice, but nothing like Hawaii. The only funny story involves my friend Mike. I should note, he was a Navy man assigned to a ship during the Korean war, so you would think water would be no problem, right? Anyway we all decided we wanted try snorkeling so it seemed advisable to take lessons. Mike poo-pooed lessons as of course he is ex-Navy. Well, we went to NCL's private island to snorkel. We are all practicing when all of a sudden Mike jumps out of the water gasping for air. It turns out he submerged and swallowed water. Mind you, the water is less than 2 feet deep, so how he did that I don't know! Anyway that was it for snorkeling. Mike threw his gear under the umbrella and sat and brooded until we returned to the ship. The subject never came up again as long as he was alive. (but it was funnier than you can imagine!)

I will try to write more as I get inspired. I'm not sure how much this is being read as I don't have a tracker. Sometimes what I think is pertinent is not good reading so if it is boring just don't read or give me advice.