RE: [Paddlewise] Loss

Thanks Chuck. My memories of Yvonne and canoeing together every summer for a
week with the kids and then the kayaking I did with my beloved wife and
life-partner every year she was able to in the early fall are all so
bittersweet right now. It is amazing how fast life went by, but the moments
were made accountable as a couple and as a family as we endeavored to open
our eyes and hearts to the wonderment all around us all the time. I was able
to do this with my own solo paddling, with my beloved spouse on the water,
and to teach this to our children when we paddled together. Yvonne's legacy
of love proves to have extended our appreciation and awe of our natural
world in that Yvonne had an amazing capacity to love and encourage everyone
she met. The memorial service was chock full on Saturday, even saw a
Paddlewiser there too, and this love for others was completely evident. And
so she balanced us out as a family in that we saw her capacity for loving
people, which I think allied with the love and appreciation of nature, truly
is what makes it a special life and one that is rewarding and brings
content. The void is unbearable right now, yes, but time will tame some of
it, memories will be carried in my heart forever, and I will take the next
stroke, pulling on the paddle as it were, moving forward like we all do,
toward a horizon one hopes will bring new adventure and happiness. We are
meaning-makers as humans. I find meaning thinking we shall all see our loved
ones again one day, but the days of love and intense affection and
understanding I was given by my beloved, and the days of simple reward on
the water together were meaning and fulfillment in and of themselves. Doug
Lloyd



Doug,

I'm sorry to hear about your loss. If it were me, it would feel like an
aching void in my life; I'm sure it is the same for you.

I've been too busy to read Paddlewise lately, hence the lateness of my
reply.

Chuck Holst
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