Tag Archives: #bereavement

Nesting Magellan Penguins

May 8, 2025Events, Grief Journey#Argentina, #BeagleChannel, #bereavement, #Childloss, #drugdeath, #griefandhealing, #griefisreal, #griefjourney, #grieving, #grievingmother, #lifeafterloss, #losingachild, #losingalovedone, #loss, #opioidepidemic, #overdose, #OverdoseAwareness, #penguin, #Ushuaia, griefLosing Someone to Addiction

Post #32

We rounded a corner and then went up to the Magellan Penguin nesting area. We walked so close to them that we could have touched them if we had wanted to. The males use their beaks to dig out one nest during their lifetime. What a lot of work! And they mate for life.

What an amazing privilege to walk among these beautiful creatures with Tristan’s penguin!

Tristan added a rainbow for our return trip.

Gentoo Penguin Walk

May 6, 2025Events, Grief Journey#Argentina, #BeagleChannel, #bereavement, #Childloss, #drugdeath, #Gentoo, #griefandhealing, #griefisreal, #griefjourney, #grieving, #grievingmother, #lifeafterloss, #losingachild, #losingalovedone, #loss, #opioidepidemic, #overdose, #OverdoseAwareness, #penguin, #Ushuaia, griefLosing Someone to Addiction

Post #30

In the afternoon I was able to take a walk among the penguins on Penguin Island. What a heart-expanding hour!

First we walked near the Gentoo penguins that had migrated from Antarctica. It is believed they followed a ship for the 36-hour crossing. There are about 80 of this type on the island. They construct their nests out of pebbles.

Then we walked past a large colony of sea lions, all crammed together, nipping and bellowing and flopping around. We stayed safely on the trail.

Beagle Channel Cruise Part 1

May 3, 2025Events, Grief Journey#Argentina, #BeagleChannel, #bereavement, #Childloss, #drugdeath, #griefandhealing, #griefisreal, #griefjourney, #grieving, #grievingmother, #lifeafterloss, #losingachild, #losingalovedone, #loss, #opioidepidemic, #overdose, #OverdoseAwareness, #penguin, #Ushuaia, griefLosing Someone to Addiction

Post #28

The Beagle Channel cruise involved boating around a few small islands crammed with wildlife. The first island had piles of squawking imperial cormorants. The second had bellowing South American sea lions.

Yesterday there was a 7.4 mag earthquake a little south of the channel. Adriana contacted one of our guides, who said all was well. We are relieved!

First Hike in Ushuaia

May 2, 2025Events, Grief Journey#Argentina, #bereavement, #Childloss, #drugdeath, #griefandhealing, #griefisreal, #griefjourney, #grieving, #grievingmother, #lifeafterloss, #losingachild, #losingalovedone, #loss, #opioidepidemic, #overdose, #OverdoseAwareness, #penguin, #Ushuaia, griefLosing Someone to Addiction

Post #27

Adriana, Perito, and I took our first hike up toward 2 glaciers. It had a gorgeous lookout so we could see down on Ushuaia a nd the Beagle Channel.

Sunrises at the Bottom of the World

May 1, 2025Events, Grief Journey#Argentina, #bereavement, #Childloss, #drugdeath, #griefandhealing, #griefisreal, #griefjourney, #grieving, #grievingmother, #lifeafterloss, #losingachild, #losingalovedone, #loss, #opioidepidemic, #overdose, #OverdoseAwareness, #penguin, #Ushuaia, griefLosing Someone to Addiction

Post #26

Having a compass app on my phone comes in handy sometimes. I checked it at sunrise and the sun appeared on my compass to be rising in the northeast. Yet I did not find it disorienting, as I expected it to be, because I was not in familiar places with familiar landmarks. But shadows did sometimes throw me off a little.

At breakfast, Adriana encouraged me to try the Argentinian biscuits. Since I generally can’t tolerate American wheat (I can eat sprouted or sourdough) or dairy (I can eat A2 only), I thought I would give them a try. Wow, they were good! I have always loved biscuits, so this was a real treat.

Flight to the Bottom of the World

April 29, 2025Events, Grief Journey#Argentina, #bereavement, #Childloss, #drugdeath, #griefandhealing, #griefisreal, #griefjourney, #grieving, #grievingmother, #lifeafterloss, #losingachild, #losingalovedone, #loss, #opioidepidemic, #overdose, #OverdoseAwareness, #penguin, #Ushuaia, griefLosing Someone to Addiction

Post #25

Perito and I flew to Ushuaia, the largest city at the bottom of the world. We got a window seat with lovely views of the Andes.

I went farther south than anyone in my family had ever been. My grandfather had traveled around the world as a coal shoveler on the yacht Eleanor before the turn of the 19^th century. He went around southern India, but never went around the Americas because he got off the boat in California.

My sister visited my niece in Bolivia a few years ago because my niece was working there for a year.

There I was, at the gateway to Antarctica, which was a 36-hour ship ride away. But that was not my destination.

I soon met up with my friend Adriana Bertola.

Jason’s Favorite Part

April 28, 2025Events, Grief Journey, Uncategorized#Argentina, #bereavement, #Childloss, #drugdeath, #ElCalafate, #griefandhealing, #griefisreal, #griefjourney, #grieving, #grievingmother, #lifeafterloss, #losingachild, #losingalovedone, #loss, #opioidepidemic, #overdose, #OverdoseAwareness, #penguin, griefLosing Someone to Addiction

Post #24

Sadly for both of us, it was time for Jason to return home because he did not have much time off work.

I asked, “What was your favorite part of the trip?”

To my surprise, he said, “Drinking the fresh, pure glacial water at Perito Moreno. That was the best water I’ve ever had in my life.”

And the biggest bonus of all: Jason wants to return, which gives him a positive goal to work toward. After all the horrible things he has been through, especially losing his older brother Tristan in 2015 to a heroin overdose, this makes me very happy.

Yeti Bar

April 26, 2025Events, Grief Journey#Argentina, #bereavement, #Childloss, #drugdeath, #ElCalafate, #griefandhealing, #griefisreal, #griefjourney, #grieving, #grievingmother, #lifeafterloss, #losingachild, #losingalovedone, #loss, #opioidepidemic, #overdose, #OverdoseAwareness, #Patagonia, #penguin, griefLosing Someone to Addiction

Post #23

In the evening we went to a Yeti bar, named for a mythical ape-like creature living in the Himalayan mountains. I was told the letter “Y” is pronounced “Sh.” Jason and I had a giggle over that one. In the West the creature is called the Abominable Snowman.

The bar offered photo opportunities in sub-zero temperatures. They provided parkas, mittens, and non-skid shoe coverings and served their drinks in ice glasses.

Perito got to sit on the Abominable Snowman’s shoulder.

Brrr! Perfect for a penguin.

4×4 Adventure

April 25, 2025Events, Grief Journey#Argentina, #bereavement, #Childloss, #drugdeath, #ElCalafate, #griefandhealing, #griefisreal, #griefjourney, #grieving, #grievingmother, #lifeafterloss, #losingachild, #losingalovedone, #loss, #opioidepidemic, #overdose, #OverdoseAwareness, #Patagonia, #penguin, griefLosing Someone to Addiction

Post #22

Back in El Calafate, Jason wanted to take a 4×4 adventure up a neighboring hill, so off we went.

We saw Choique birds, which looked like small ostriches; guanaco, which is similar to the llama; and some stunning scenery.

At the end we enjoyed a hearty stew, and then a brownie with dulce de leche, a creamy caramel spread. Mmmm! And we both tried grapefruit soda, which also was good.