Tag Archives: Richard Tillinghast

            Paddling futilely like a one-winged albatross, I watched the bow of the balloon-like inflatable kayak swing inexorably broadside into the muddy four-foot waves. I struggled to straighten the lethargic rubber boat with my one good arm, but found myself wallowing imbalanced in the deepest trough.             “Oh my God,” I thought incredulously, “I’m going to flip.”              I clenched …

            In the summer of 2023, our tight-knit community of White Salmon, Washington, was rocked by tragedy. Three young men, all bright stars in their own way, died within the span of six months, by suicide, an unintended drug overdose, and a kayaking accident. The first had been a childhood friend of my son Che. The second was a …