“If We're Broken Glass
I'll find the pieces back to you
And if this Broken Glass
Won't pull together I'll turn to glue
And if this glue won't hold
I'll turn to gold
And shine for you”
It’s been 9 years now since Rickie died. And we were left with a world of broken glass. We tried to leave our world as it was when he was here. But it became apparent after a couple of years that the world as we knew it wasn’t going to shine without him.
So 7 years ago the decision was made to leave that broken life and embark on a new one. And my kids and grandkids and I, along with other family, and people that joined us on this journey and became instant family, embraced this new life with gusto.
We’ve had so many adventures since that decision was made. Rafting, hiking, tubing, skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, train riding, kayaking, horseback riding in the mountains. So many meals and drinks at local breweries where the kids shared their stories. Stories of coming down the mountain in a blizzard, Wolf Pup lessons, learning new skills, 4’ of snow in one week. Bear sightings, hiking in the forest while the snow falls on us, standing high on a ridge looking down at the river below. Sitting in the hot tub with all the stars in the universe above us. Campfires with Christmas music and s’mores, bundled up in our new jackets and boots. Sledding down the hill at Turkey Springs and up at Wolf Creek. Making snowmen and snow angels. We’ve been to Creede, Winslow and Sedona AZ, and Las Vegas NV. Going to the hot springs and smelling like sulphur, walking the river downtown with all the Christmas lights, riding in a hot air balloon. Dancing and theater and live music. Driving scary mountain shelf roads to Ouray and Silverton, trips to Telluride and Palisades. Trips to the Great Sand Dunes, Mesa Verde, and the Ghost Ranch. Visits to Santa Fe and Albuquerque. And to Crested Butte, Denver, Taos, and Roswell. 5K walks, drives to see the golden aspens and where the last grizzly in Colorado was killed. Jeep rides to Imogene Pass and tours of mines. Cutting our Christmas trees down in the forest as an eagle screamed overhead. Herds of elk, one time walking single file through a snowy field on the way to the Piedra River. Shopping in Durango. Walking dogs and watching the Cowboy Poetry Gathering parade.
And we’ve marveled at everything we’ve done. And marveled at ourselves for doing it. We’ve not taken one moment of it for granted. It’s all been magical.
When I sold the ranch I promised the kids and grandkids we’d have adventures. We wouldn’t lose that place we all loved and replace it with just something ordinary. We’d be bold. As Rickie would have expected of us. I always thought he’d be a little disappointed in us if we didn’t take the opportunity we had and make something of it. The small acreage and tiny cabin we struggled to pay for and worked so hard to make into what it was from the empty ranch land it was with trash everywhere, was what enabled us to live this life.
And I’m so proud of us all and how we’ve shone. We shine for you, Rickie. And because of you.
