From her village in the Philippines, Encarnacion, the eldest child born into a neglectful family, dedicated her youth to caring for her parents and siblings. She worked in a factory, and despite only receiving a sixth-grade education, gradually worked her way up to become an assistant manager.
From a military base in Hawaii, Rick worked as a jet mechanic for the U.S. Navy. He enlisted at age 25 and stuck it out through multiple deployments to Guam, Japan, and the Philippines. It was on one of these tours that he met his future wife.
On his first deployment to the Philippines, Rick walked into a local dance hall and saw Encarnacion for the first time. He asked her to dance and their connection was instantaneous. The pair held each other close for song after song, and by the end of the evening, they both had a hunch that this meeting-by-chance was something special.
Encarnacion was initially wary of a romance with an American soldier, but Rick pursued the relationship. When he returned to the Philippines a year later on a second deployment, he proposed to Encarnacion while tears of joy flowed.
Commitment amidst life’s storms
Their love was strong, but great challenges lay ahead. During one of Encarnacion’s routine immigration medical check-ups, a cancerous mass was discovered. She endured a devastating surgery alone while Rick had to be away on military duty, which resulted in the removal of her uterus.
After they married, Encarnacion’s journey to the U.S. proved to be full of complications. “The hardest thing I’ve had to overcome is getting her to move to the U.S.,” Rick remembered. “We had to go to 13 different places and get her checked in order to come here.”
Encarnacion finally received clearance to live on Rick’s military base in Hawaii and eventually the mainland. As a native speaker of the Indigenous language, Tagalog, Encarnacion struggled to adapt to a new culture and became heavily dependent on Rick. She remained connected to her roots, regularly checking in on her family in the Philippines and providing financial support.
Forging a new path
Without the option to have children, Rick and Encarnacion adjusted to their new life stage and situation. After the military, Rick’s mechanical expertise paved the way for a career as a diesel truck driver. Encarnacion accompanied him on his journeys all across the United States. With only one another as company, they enjoyed the freedom of the road, and eventually made it to 49 out of 50 states.
Day after day, they loved gazing out the window, marveling at the ever-changing scenery, weather, and people. They collected small jars of toothpicks as souvenirs in different states and amassed cherished memories together.
Through 46 years of marriage, Alaska was the only state they hadn’t yet experienced. They hoped that someday they’d be able to watch whales there, but financial constraints and the physical challenges of aging made it seem impossible.
“We are not spring chickens anymore, but I would still like to take my wife somewhere we have not been,” said Rick.
Visiting their 50th state
Wish of a Lifetime made Encarnacion’s dreams come true by arranging a trip to Alaska, with Rick as her travel companion. The couple flew from their current home in Denver, Colorado, to Anchorage, Alaska. Next, they were transported by shuttle bus on a 2 1/2 hour ride to Seward, Alaska, the access point to the Kenai Fjords National Park. Here, they experienced a whale watching boat tour along with all the abundant wildlife, glacier-filled scenery, and rich maritime heritage that this stunning coastal region has to offer.
The trip allowed Encarnacion and Rick to reignite the sense of adventure they felt for so many years on the road, while honoring their enduring commitment to one another. “This has been an amazing present for my wife,” Rick said. “We have never been able to afford a trip like this.”
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