about outdoor sports. “I can’t say I’m passionate for any length of
time, but I do believe I’m passionate about the outdoors, trees
especially.”
Pam Hana, still manic, bouncing on her chair, said, “I’m
passionate about staying single and frickin’ free! I’m loving it!
Seriously!”
Herrera said she used to be passionate about her job in the Army.
“I was a lead gunner in Iraq, in a turret, with a headset. My kid dream
came true, of a car that talked to me. I wanted to be Knight Rider with
the biggest gun and the coolest clothes. I remember thanking God for
allowing my dream to come true.” She looked at the sand. “It’s so
hard to create a dream again and go forward. That’s where I get stuck.
How do I do that now with all these barriers, these health issues, the
medicines, the bad relationships, no money, the disability?”
Angela Day said, “I don’t want to leave my safety zone.”
“You left it today on the river,” Partridge said.
“Yes. But it’s become normal for me to leave the house only once
a month to buy groceries. I do have a deep personal dream not to be
that way.”
“Like when you’re on the river, sometimes you have to ask for
help,” said Partridge. “People have your back.”
“It was the funnest day ever today!” said Hana.
“For you.” Lopez glowered.WE FELL INTO a pattern of running the rapids, processing the day,
making and breaking camp, telling stories, coming together
sometimes and other times dropping off into pockets of introspection
or quiet or just plain tiredness, not unlike riffles and eddies, the
rhythm of the river. Before breakfast, we practiced group yoga.
Several people grabbed a quick cigarette before they arranged
themselves into lotus position, which never failed to crack me up.
Day’s dog, Major, lay at her feet at all times and seemed perplexed by