My wife and I had this game whenever I’d go hiking or backpacking. I’d take a stuffed animal, one of the 90 or so we owned, pose them on my hikes, and take pictures of them to share with her. My wife isn’t a hiker but she knows it’s something I love and the stuffed animals gave us a way to stay connected during my absences.
I have thousands of pictures of our stuffed animals from my trips on Vermont’s Long Trail, the Appalachian Trail, The TGO (Great Outdoor Challenge) and The Cape Wrath Trail in Scotland, and a gazillion on the summits in the White Mountain National Forest. She always got a chuckle out of seeing them and hearing tales of their adventures with me.
But the joy of our companionship may soon come crashing to an end. While we have grown apart in recent years, we still shared a deep friendship for one another, respect, and admiration. She is fighting for her life as I write this and I fear the worst. The world was a better place with her. I cannot imagine what it will be like if she leaves.
