Loss and Remembrance
In Northern New Mexico
As I sat down to write this, I heard laughter outside, so I walked out and saw that a few family members were heading to the arroyo and down to the river from my wife Annie’s ancestral family home in northern New Mexico. The laughter and the image brought tears to my eyes, but made me happy.
We suffered a tragic loss last week in a swimming incident in Costa Rica, where we lost one young family member and almost lost four. I doubt I will write more about it. Maybe two dozen family members gathered from New Mexico, Colorado, Iowa, New York, Seattle, and Boston to mourn and share stories. The laughter and hugs of children who aren’t old enough to understand what happened centered us.
Father comforting daughter.
Albuquerque sunrise.
Our family has suffered a great loss, but in some ways we will be forever stronger.
I’m a proud member of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. Please check out our work here.
Thanks for checking in Bob. We've missed you. But we also know you'll be where the universe needs you to be. As you embrace family and friends in this time of grief, know that you are embraced by a community that appreciates and depends on your story telling.
You've shared enough. Cherishing what comes our way is the best we can do