“Chase down your passion like it’s the last bus of the night.” Terri Guillemets
My old raft's last tumble among the waves, July 2007, Snake River near Jackson, Wyoming.
Travels With Maggie
One of the great things about growing older is discovering that passion doesn’t always have to involve sex. It can be anything that gets your blood pumping, your heart racing and gives you immense pleasure.
My greatest passions these days include writing, family, friends, Maggie, travel, books, birds, learning new things and nature. I’m grateful for each and every one of them. They give both meaning and joy to my life.
When I was younger, passion had only one meaning – and it came with a lot of angst. It usually does when there’s another person involved in fulfilling your own wants and needs. And that’s especially true when you’ve made wrong choices about whom to love.
My friend, Kim, and I, sit in the raft -- filled with water as it always was after a big rapid -- one last time.
Thus it was in 1983, at the ripe old age of 44 ,that I found myself without the soul mate I always expected to have in my life – but didn’t. The five children I had with a non-soul mate had all flown the coop, and my second attempt at connecting passion with a soul mate had just ended badly.
I was totally on my own for the very first time. And then passion found me.
I was invited to raft down a stretch of the Snake River with a friend – and I fell passionately in love with white water.
Camping was always part of the rafting agenda. This photo was taken at the East Table Campground beside the Snake River in the Targhee National Forest
Within weeks I had bought my own raft, and for the next 20 years, it never missed a summer going down at least one stretch of white water, often more. There were always plenty of friends willing to help paddle.
And oh the adventures we all shared. We never tire of telling them again and again.
They all came back to me in a flash yesterday when I was sorting through my photographs. Among them was a file I hadn’t opened that my friend, Kim, had sent me of the retirement party that we gave for that old raft in 2007.
Many of those who had paddled it came for the celebration.
As I reviewed the photos that had been taken at the party, my eyes moistened. That raft was what taught me that passion had more than one meaning.
Pat Bean's blog 
Teriffic post, Pat. This summer gave me a similar lesson, though in a bit more sedate way as a volunteer at three of the Washington state parks. I am enjoying your blog and would love to email you privately. My email is barb@barbmull.com. My blog is http://amullabout.wordpress.com.
Just saw the Albuquerque balloon festival. Didn’t know I could get up at 3:30 and drive from Santa Fe’ or not, but boy was it worth it. Saw the first ones go up in the dark, standing right next to one. Then the 7 am assention was thrilling because of day break, standing among the huge balloons as they took shape and flight and hanging out in the cold with hundreds of men women and children. The passion everyone was experiencing just filled me up.
It’s hard to follow a passion at 3:30 a.m., but I’m so glad you did. As I’m sure you are. Bird outings sometimes require very early mornings, and while I’ve caught quite a few of those special moments, I know I’ve missed just as many by sleeping in. But sometimes sleep, too, can be a passion. LOL.
My Aunt Barbara (an old maid school teacher for 40 years) said that your forties were when you learned you could live without a man!! She had many passions – birding one of them. I’ve just discovered a new passion – zentangle. It has become addictive! At 1 am, I am drawing away – and I can’t even draw!! Other passions include gardening, music (most kinds), crocheting, reading, and of course, chocolate!
I love your adventurous, no-fear spirit …. the rafting looks wild.
It was. What I loved best about it, as a skier who sat down when things got too much for me, is that once you committed to a rapid, there was no turning back. It was sort of a life lesson for me at an important time in my life. Thanks for commenting.