The last few years….
Right before Covid started in 2020,lots of changes were happening in Courtney’s life. She went through a major breakup with a man she had been with for 7-8 years. That was not going to keep her down. My mom and I admired that about her. She was determined to not “ wallow” in that grief. She began learning all sorts of new skills while being in lockdown. Courtney met a man who she fell in love with. She picked up the Ukulele and became quite good at playing. Her new partner played the Banjo and taught her so much. She would send me little clips on snapchat of her singing and playing. I was always thrilled when she shared these clips with me. I was so impressed! She also started learning how to play the harmonica. She learned how to make Limoncello, wine, apple butter and jellies. She was really becoming very domestic and loving this new chapter in her life.
The previous few years, Courtney really got into hiking and backpacking with a her partner. She went on several trips with him and with us ladies in the family. We actually started our annual “ Girls Hiking Trips” in 2019. My Mom, Sister, Niece , Courtney and myself took on these challenges together. Courtney coined us ,after our first trip , as “ Our wild pack of roving women”. How thankful I am we had those few years to do this together. Our first trip was to the Gila Nat’l Forest in New Mexico. A 13 mile trip that we did in 3 days,2 nights. By the time we were done, we swore off hiking ever again!
But , lo and behold, the next year we scored permits to hike Havasupai in Arizona in Oct of 2020. With permits being very difficult to get, we were excited! This would be a 3 night 4 day hiking trip and as we all know, Covid hit and the Tribe closed the reservation indefinitely. Anyway, I will save the hiking stories for another day.
I just wanted to share with you a little bit more about the marvelous young woman she was becoming and take you on this journey we now find ourselves on, unwillingly.
I will share our story, that grief is real, raw and relentless. We can still find small bits of joy while we carry the huge, heavy backpack of grief on our back. Stick around, if you are so inclined. I have so much to share.