One unbroken ride through Brooke Higgins's world — from the childhood greenbelt with Toby, through City Park days with a puppy named Hazel, late nights falling in love with mathematics, family and food under the gazebo lights, a black Yamaha into the foothills, and the sunrise that starts year 27.
Climbing the front-yard trees, hammock summers, games in the park across the street, expeditions down the creek in the open space out back, first songs on the fiddle, sisters laughing themselves silly — and Toby, the gentle Bernese, in the middle of it all.
Walks around City Park with a brand-new puppy named Hazel, shifts in RiNo to put herself through school — and a dad who could not possibly be prouder.
Late-night study sessions kept turning into joy — somewhere between coffee and one more proof, mathematics stopped being homework and became a love.
Violin and ukulele under the gazebo, steaks on the grill, the whole big loud crew laughing — and the fastest hands in Denver liberating one more perfect piece.
When school or work or life runs hot, she rides — out where Colorado opens wide, until the road and the landscape put the week back in order.
A few switchbacks, a ridgeline, and Hazel at her knee — mountain beauty has a way of putting the whole world back into perspective.
The sun comes up on everything next — career, family, fun, far-away places — and she cannot wait to meet it. Happy birthday, Brooke.