Last week Sheri’s mother, Linda Knutson passed away.
While not unexpected, her death was not anticipated. Sheri’s relationship with
her mother, like my relationship with my father was distant prior to their
passing. Life begins and ends on its own terms. We are just along for the ride.
The ride includes joy, sadness, accomplishments and regrets.
The relationships we cultivate can be the source of our
greatest fulfillment. Unfortunately all relationships do not enjoy equal
success. Like seeds, they sprout and bloom. Without maintenance and care, they
can wither and die. Some of those we love follow paths that lead them away from
us. Expressing a bond to loved ones who have isolated themselves, while hoping
for reunification feels like standing on uneven ground. The more invested you are in a relationship;
the more pain must be endured when things are stretched thin. I have
experienced both joy of a successful reunification and the disappointment of
complete detachment from a loved one.
Island Park has given Sheri and me a beautiful setting
to cultivate the relationships that we hold so dear. The caldera also provides
a little bait to hook the grandkids into a little non-electronic bonding time. Floating down Box Canyon or Big Springs,
hiking along the Henry’s Fork or sitting around the campfire burning
marshmallows give us the opportunity to express our interest in those we love. Island
Park has also given us opportunities to develop wonderful relationships with
many residents of the high country. For those opportunities we are truly
grateful.
We all live with the regret of relationships not
salvaged. I choose to look back on those relationships and relive the good
times that we shared. Focusing on the negative is neither healthy nor
productive. I am grateful for the time that someone has shared with me, no
matter how fleeting.
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