Sue is a Montana fly fishing guide, outdoor enthusiast, podcast host, entrepreneur, former Peace Corp Volunteer turned Coast Guard Captain, and longtime advocate for wildlife conservation through her tenure with the federal government. She’s an impressive woman, to say the least!

I had the privilege of working with Sue through Sky Oro, a local women’s networking community, and gaining her wise insights on uncovering our authentic voices while telling our stories. As a small token of appreciation, I delivered a set of coasters I had made of reclaimed wood and blue resin that emulated the Montana waters she so dearly loves.

In true Sue fashion, she took that morsel of an idea and expanded it into the exploration of building a river table, utilizing the wood from her existing dining room table which was, when we met, unstable, wobbly and weak. But, this was not just any wood – it was ebony, a rare tropical hardwood. The table was made in Bali, purchased in Guam over 20 years ago, and had traveled with Sue during and after her Coast Guard career, which moved her across oceans and 6 U.S. States.

Granted, after all those years and movement through the varied regions and humidity levels, the table was in need of a little love. But, I must admit – if I had traveled that same path, I would be claiming the same!

For inspiration, Sue and Josh leaned into their experiences together, fishing along Big Sky Country’s rivers and exploring Montana’s great outdoors.

When we met, they offered up a mason jar full of mementos from their excursions – river rocks collected and crystals mined, each carrying its own memory of a journey shared.

Every piece told a story – prompting reminiscent, warm smiles as they recalled their various adventures.

Not only did Sue and Josh influence the conceptual design, but they also participated in the actual build. They refined the curves of the newly carved stream beds, strategically placed the rocks, and helped pour the epoxy. And, we had fun collaborating on posting updates on social media.

Ebony wood is incredibly dense and, therefore, already very heavy. After adding rocks and epoxy resin for an expanded table width, we also decided to build a metal base to support the additional weight for years to come.

Overall – this build holds so many layers of meaning. It’s a literal representation of Montana’s landscape, as well as their fly fishing adventures, and even their involvement in the build itself.

It’s also an incredible figurative representation of their partnership, memories shared, as well as hope and belief in the steadiness and stability of their future together.