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Letter to the editor: On the thrill of the mountain while igniting passion for writing

Luke Vidic
Breckenridge

Since moving to Summit several years ago, I’ve watched my hobbies dwindle. I sold my guitar, stowed my saxophone, sent most of my favorite books home to mom and dad, and — most disheartening of all — stopped writing. I’ve picked up my favorite pen, my Pilot G2 0.5, maybe once a month, at best. This, after writing a page a day as a kid. I was abandoning my pastimes — all for the thrill of the mountains. My free time was devoted to boards and bikes, a lifestyle that many sought. But I felt unfulfilled. Gutted, almost. Meaningful play — my boarding and biking habits — had bullied my artistic pursuits into submission.

In the past two months, however, I’ve returned to form. I’m grateful to the Summit County Rotary Club, their literary committee, and every writer from Heeney to Blue River for stoking the coals and reigniting my passion for writing. When seemingly every other aspect of our community encourages thrills and spills, the Rotarians and friends continue to support our county’s readers and writers. As a judge in the winter writing contest and a Summit County Library staff member, I’ve seen exhibitions of talent that don’t involve triple corks (save the three bottles of wine some existential or depraved writers might have required). I thank everyone, both young and old, who have submitted work. You’ve inspired at least one person to write again.

I encourage everyone to branch out this winter. This is your bootcamp bugle, waking you, asking you to pick up a pen and write. And if you need inspiration, the library will have plenty of visiting authors this winter for kids and adults. Best of all, there’s no consequences for being bad at this! No trips to the ER for dual clavicle breaks when your syntax is off! Lovely, right? Right. Write!


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