The Legacy

Steve lives on in his children, this is a given; however leaving a legacy for friends and family is a truly blessed way to live on.  Steve had a passion for life, a passion for fun, a passion for skiing.....he would have loved to ski more than he did, live as a ski bum traveling from mountain to mountain.  He skied the eastern mountains and he skied the western mountains.  He left behind a love of skiing in Todd and Maddie as well as our neighbors, particularly John Murphy.  I think John shares Steve's passion for skiing.  John Murphy proclaimed that he would carry on Steve's legacy with his children and Steve's children by taking them all skiing.  Now, of course, all of the 'children' can go ski by themselves but John still packs his van with skiers and equipment and sets out for the mountain....Steve goes in spirit.  Skiing will always be Steve with our families, Todd, Maddie & the Murphys.

Erin and Maddie posing for the camera, I believe John must have taken the picture.  When I think of White Face Mountain, Gore Mountain or West Mountain, I think of Steve.  I love that his love of skiing lives on, I hope that it will live on beyond the immediate group.  I hope that someday The Murphy's grandchildren will know that Steve Whitmarsh was the essesnce of skiing.

Serenity is what I think of when I look at these pictures Maddie took from the top of Gore Mountain.  Steve would be so proud to know that Maddie now skies black diamonds with ease, she wasn't quite there when she skied with her dad.  Steve worried about Todd's adventurous skiing.....daredevil.   I am personally very happy I cannot see my children racing down a black diamond trail....it would most likely give me heart palpitations but I do love that they ski.

 Steve wanted me to ski from day we met in November 1986, I resisted until March 2003.  As most of you know that did not go well and I have not skied since.  We were on a ski weekend in Lake Placid with the Murphy Clan....when I suffered a "sports injury at White Face" or in correct terms, I had a slow motion fall on the bunny slope at White Face....and what an injury it was, torn ACL.  

Forever and always Steve and going skiing will be linked.  It makes me happy and gives me joy.  I hope it does the same for Todd, Maddie, John, Sarah, Christopher, Erin & Jane.

Steve was very particular about ski clothing and equipment.....he used to lay Todd & Maddie's clothing out on the dining room floor, Todd's to the right of the dining room table and Maddie's to the left.  Until last year I continued this...that is not necessary now but Todd & Maddie remember.

Our departed loved ones do live on in us, in our hearts, in our souls, in our memories.....a legacy is something special to leave and Steve did this.  When look at these beautiful pictures Maddie took yesterday I know that Steve is in them and I know he was there yesterday with Maddie, Erin & John.

Day 42 of 365.

Live, love, inspire......K