My first overnight river trip was on the Chama River, in New Mexico. I like to refer to floating this river, as paddling through a Georgia O’keeffe painting, as it was the subject of many of her pieces, and is amazingly picturesque.
Throughout the year, prior to the river trip, my stepfather, Albert, had been going through chemo treatments to fight stage four lung cancer. It was a difficult time for my family and we knew our last days with Albert were approaching.
When the Chama trip arrived, I left behind my cell phone, and was out of touch from the outside world. I was tagging along with a large group who I didn’t know well, but luckily had my two best girl friends tagging along. The three days floating on The Chama were some of the best days I’ve had being out in nature. Unforgettable memories were created, with tons of laughs with friends, moments of serenity, and true connection with the beauty of floating through a painting.
When the trip ended, and we jumped in the car to head home, I couldn’t ignore the twisted feeling in my gut, the thought that my stepfather had passed while I was on the river. I made a call to my mother, and I was right. She informed me of Albert’s passing.
While dealing with the pain of losing Albert, I found comfort in knowing that this particular trip on the river not only held memories of the experience I had, but now holds a special memory of my stepfather. He was an artist, and had an appreciation for nature’s beauty. I was in a place that I know he would truly love as well. Every time I revisit The Chama River, I am reminded that I was meant to be on the river during that time, and that every time I float it in the future, I am meant to carry Albert’s memory with me.