Bonding with Barry: Christmas tradition leads to starry encounter

Aspen, Colo., is known for its high-brow, celebrity culture, as many celebrities spend their winters in Aspen. A few years ago, junior Carmine Drohan was lucky enough to spot Barry Bonds, a former star baseball player for the San Francisco Giants, on one of her winter trips. 

Since age 5, Drohan and her family have flown to Aspen every winter break for a week to ski. The Drohan family usually goes to Aspen for one week during winter break in December and for ski week in February. Although the Drohans go to Aspen the most, they have also spent breaks in Telluride, Colo.; Snowbird, Utah; and Salt Lake City.

“We usually ski until about [3 p.m.,] then my parents will crash, and I just go shopping in downtown,” Drohan said.

Shopping and skiing are Drohan’s favorite activities, but she also likes spend time with new friends that she makes while skiing.

“There is a cute, little movie theater too, so I like to go there also,” Drohan said.

One year when Drohan, then 11, and her brother were shopping, they saw Bonds and his former wife.

“Not much happened, but I was sitting next to this lady in a boot shop and this big guy was standing next to her,” Drohan said. “[My brother] Ethan and I were trying to decide if the big guy was Barry Bonds or not because we love the Giants.”

When the woman went to pay at the register, Drohan and her brother head the cashier say “Elizabeth Bonds.” 

“As [Bonds’] then wife was paying, he came up to me asked me how old I was and I tried to casually reply ‘Eleven,’” Drohan said. “Ethan and I were like ‘Wow.’”

Although Drohan and her brother figured out the superstar’s identities, they did not approach Bonds about it.

“We didn’t even tell them we knew who he was or anything since they were on vacation,” Drohan said. “But being in his  presence was cool enough.”

The encounter with Bonds is one of Drohan’s most memorable experiences in Aspen and she hopes to make more memories this winter and see more celebrities.

“I’m really excited to go to Aspen this year, maybe I’ll spot some more stars,” Drohan said. “Not only will it be a relief from the stresses of school, but skiing is also one of my favorite activities.” 

Drohan also hopes to keep this tradition up through college.

“I hope to continue going to Aspen even through college because this tradition has become one of the most-looked-forward-to things of the year,” Drohan said.