If a drop of water were a dollar, there would not be enough water in the entire Colorado River to thank you six river guides for the experience you have given us. My heart is overflowing with gratitude. It is an extraordinary pleasure to watch you work – a laughable word for what you do. The impressive variety of skills you bring to the canyon, and your competence and confidence with those skills, is beautiful to see. Your agile, graceful, strong bodies managing every task are as pleasurable to watch as a ballet.

The Grand Canyon is astonishing, and would be a visual and spiritual extravaganza if I saw it by myself. But the passion, the information, the stories you shared with us add immense richness to the experience of being here.

I am a person who takes charge of most of the things I do and who is always stepping up to help. I quick realized that all would run smoothly, even if I went off and took time for myself, and that — after the fun bag line  — I could let you take care of me. I felt incredibly taken care of in many, many ways all day long, every day: The firm hand holds and advice climbing over the rocks; the stories; the meals you labored to prepare for us; the stories; the geology and botany and history lessons; the safety classes and reminders; the stories — to say nothing of rowing all day long, packing and unpacking the boats, guiding us through the rapids, and riffing off each other for a continuing source of laughs – with a lot of help from several nut cases among the passengers – not mentioning any names.

I just want to be sure you know that your skills, your grace, your resourcefulness, and your warmth and kindness, I greatly appreciate.

If any of you ever want to visit San Miguel de Allende, don’t hesitate to come. We have lovely guest rooms. We will be happy to sprinkle sand all throughout them, and welcome you with open arms.

I know you have hundreds of passengers, but I will only ever have six river guides, and I will never forget you.

Susan Page

Grand Canyon – July 2011