If you know these beaches, then you know how they heal.

It's been a long time since Simon ran with gratitude. A long time since energy sparked a want for chase.

That Simon finally finds joy at the beach w/o his littermate Garson is a kind of cruel kindness. Nearly one year later, he can smile. Almost one year later, he can wag his tail and approach other pups. And yet — I can hardly relate how he's also struggling. How he's trying but remembering. My boy.

"…From the moment they both came into my life (our lives), the world around me faded away. As they grew older, the more feral we all became. Muir, Berry, Walden?

Pigpen?"

open.substack.com/pub/fieldtra...

This, my boy.

One of the hardest lessons in pet grief—or any grief—is this: you don’t owe rituals to those who stood by while yours went unseen.
Grief deserves space.

Light a candle, reflect—but don’t give unnecessarily to those who won’t give to you.

#petloss #grief #writing #catahoulas #traildog #dogcancer

I feel his loneliness some days more than others. Pet grief - his grief - is real, audible, and it manifests in physical ways. #grief #dogs #traildog #takotsubo #heartmurmur

The Red Gate Series will be my first book project—exploring pet loss, memory, and ritual.
THESE OUR BOYS begins the arc. freefall closes it.
For anyone walking forward with a quieter trail beside them.
#trailrunning #dogs #griefwriting #cancer #grief #poetryandprose #TheRedGateSeries #petloss

Solastalgia is the ache for what is disappearing, even as you stand in the middle: eroding coastlines or trails that have gone silent.

#fieldtrace #rewilding.journal #writing #Sustainability #EnvironmentScience #PublicPolicy #MastersCandidate fieldtrace.substack.com

I’ve started something I’m proud of. This isn’t just a Substack—it’s a commitment to the work ahead. I’m currently pursuing concurrent Master’s degrees in Environmental Science and Environmental Policy, both of which I hope to defend next year. #EnvironmentalScience
#EnvironmentalPolicy

I’ve been quieter here than usual.
Losing Garson, Simon's littermate, took more out of me than I can say.
Today, it feels right to begin again — with Simon still by my side.
A few photos, a few small joys.
Thanks for walking alongside us. 🌿

I was hoping to pop into bsky with either some amazing adventures or great enviro info but we’ve been caught in a bomb cyclone of power outages and downed trees. So, until the chaos ends… please enjoy our most recent photo ops.