Today commemorates Roy’s passing, and I wanted to share yet another story that is fitting to his time with us and the stories that continue on.
For those of you who knew Roy well, you knew that once he set his mind to something, he would go all in to get it done.
For the past six years, NENSA (New England Nordic Ski Association) has helped sponsor a fundraiser for the Maine Outdoor Wellness Center in honor of Roy. Participants were encouraged to participate and log in daily/weekly/monthly miles that they covered in that time span. For those not interested in the physical portion, there was also an art category. This art form could be any form of art.
Although winners have been chosen over the past years, I wanted to also personally offer my choice of winners based on similar categories.
- Most distance covered in the air
- Art
- Most distance covered on Skis
The winner for the most distance covered in the air goes to Ben Ayers.
Ben has been part of our extended family for close to 30 years. During his early days living with us as an intern and farm staff, he got to experience and help nurture our kids as they shared our farm together. Ben’s career path would take him to Nepal working with Sherpas who spent their lives assisting people with their quest to summit their great Everest while also working and finding funding to work with remote villages with infrastructures in need to name a few.
When Roy graduated from High School, and asked what he would want for a graduation gift, he said he wanted to go to Nepal with Ben. I asked if he was hoping to climb Everest. “ No, I just want to be able to be at the bottom and look up at her” He knew it was an expensive trip and said we didn’t have to worry about it because Ben would take care of it. 🙂
After his passing, I shared the story with Ben and asked if he would honor Roys wish by taking some of his ashes to the base. Ben, of course, was honored.
I had been given a unique torpedo shaped copper thermos vessel that I thought would be fitting for Roy’s ashes and so his journey began in 2019 with the hope to get Roys ashes to the base of Everest. As life would have it, or perhaps Roy, it didn’t happen; every attempt would bring a change of plan. However, Roy’s ashes would be packed back in Ben’s carry on every time he came home; 3 to 4 times a year from Nepal to New England. Each time, being asked at the airport to open up his carry-on for inspection of this torpedo shaped vessel that he had in his pack, each time being given the ok to move forward. I will let you all figure out the air mileage on this.
Roys final trip took place this past spring with a trip to the base of Everest with Ben.
I can picture him standing at the base on skis patrolling as one of her guardians.
The Art Winner goes to Michael Cooper:
Michael Cooper grew up in Turner and was a classmate of Gregg and his brothers. He went off to study performing arts studying with some of the top mime performers in the world. We asked Michael if he would consider doing a performance for us during one of the earlier fund raisers; anticipating some of the same story performances that he has become known for. He did that, but also created a new story; one of Roy senior transitioning down to little Roy. Passing on the role of carrying, not the torch, but the turtle shell. For those of you not familiar with the Painted Turtle Story, a true story based on real events at the farm, be sure to stop in the store and have a read with a lovely cup of tea.
Michael recently gifted us with his final piece. A life size wooden handmade painted turtle shell costume.
Most distance on skis winner goes to Jessie Diggins:
Jessie was Roys ski inspiration. Spending countless hours watching and learning from her techniques and aspiring to be as good and as skilled as her. Jessie and her team of women have helped participate in the past NENSA challenge for Roy and this past year has honored the Maine Outdoor Wellness Center with signed pictures. Pictures that are mounted right next to Roy.
My family and I continue to be eternally grateful to all of you who continue to show up in our lives to share stories, gifts and memories of Roy.