October 12, 2022

“Let it go my love my truest,

Let it sail on silver wings,

Life's a twinkling that's for certain,

But it's such a fine thing,

There's a gathering of spirits,

There's a festival of friends,

And we'll take up where we left off

when we all meet again.”

This week I drove down to the Grand Canyon for Annette’s family reunion; something planned for nearly a year. We didn’t know that this would also become a celebration of life for Annette, who died eight weeks ago today. I wasn't sure how I would feel as I drove south through areas Annette and I had spent so much time exploring the past four years, for the first time without her. Emotions were mixed--so many happy memories mixed with profound sadness for the empty seat next to me and for what will never be again. But in the Grand Canyon, surrounded by her/our family and friends, I experienced such wonderful love and support.

Early Monday, I started an 8-mile hike along the rim of the canyon in the dark and watched the sunrise at Powell Point alone except for Annette in my heart. As the sun rose with a full moon setting over the rim, I again told her how much I love her, how grateful I am for our four decades together, and how much I miss her. I told her of the amazing beauty before me and how much she would have enjoyed this. But I also thanked her for allowing me to see this beauty even as I feel such tremendous loss. It is her ongoing gift to me. As I watched and thought of my love for her I let some of her ashes drift out over the canyon. She is now part of this amazing landscape.

Having traveled from across the country (and Europe), we gathered in my campsite Tuesday evening for a “festival of friends.” We shared stories, looked through photo albums, listened to music, shared tears and so much more. I am so very blessed to have these incredible people in my life. They are part of the story of my life with Annette. It begins with them and continues even as her spirit has “sailed on silver wings.”

This festival, this celebration of her life, was beautiful, perfect, and honored her memory and life so wonderfully. Her wish was for people to enjoy a walk in nature with an understanding that this is where her spirit was born and where it will always live; that she still lives in all of us, as we live on in her. Tears creating rainbows.

There will be more celebrations in the future in Idaho, Colorado, Minnesota and Montana to include more of our family and friends. I am so grateful for all of your support, comments, cards, emails, phone calls and so much more. I will respond to each of you, I promise. Thank you!

Please listen to the song mentioned above -- click or scan the QR code below.

Thank you, my love…

~Carrie Newcomer – The Gathering of Spirits. See links below for lyrics and video

“The Soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears.”~Minquass proverb