Wading Through Grief with Grace

Finding Solace in the River of Life 

Mes Chères, here is my very intimate story of grief and recovery, one that I have been considering turning into a book for some time now. I'm thinking of calling it "Wading Through Grief: A Female Angler Finding Purchase in the River of Life" or something similar.

The idea of swapping roles with someone who once cared for you can be both incredibly lovely and profoundly traumatic. Reflecting on the year leading up to the loss of my mother, I can't help but see how graceful and beautiful it was. She was a stoic woman, much like my late grandmother. Both of them passed with the utmost dignity and grace, surrounded by the love of their family and friends. It's what I hope for and wish to be surrounded by at the end of my own life.

The concept of the book takes the reader on a journey where I find solace in the river as a young girl, only to be reunited with its tumultuous currents as an adult during one of the darkest periods of my life. Fly fishing provided me with moments of clarity to work through the grief and tragedy that unfolds when you and your family battle the ever-present villain, Cancer.

My struggles and adventures in the river while fly fishing align so perfectly with the stages of grief, and I believe there's a story to be told that could offer comfort and support to anyone who confidently steps into its pages, just as I did into the river on the scariest of days. The humor, confidence, and solace I found while teaching myself the art of fly fishing, as well as the community I gained along the way, are second to none.

While fly fishing won't bring my mother back, it undeniably brings me closer to her every day. The moments when I stand there, and a chattering Kingfisher swoops overhead, make me feel her presence more vividly than I can conjure in a memory. If you are struggling with grief, I hope you find helpful and supportive outlets that provide comfort and help you establish your new normal.