A New Year

Last month, a group of ladies gathered together at Diana's home to not only celebrate Lara's life, but also to share how we are dealing with the absence of a dear friend now that considerable time has passed.  For me, I wasn't in Lara's inner circle of friends yet I still think about her all the time.  I got to know her over the past few years via overlapping friends, memberships to the same climbing gym, a weekend in Trout Creek, construction at my house and a shared love of clothing and music.  And we talked about trail running a lot.  But it wasn't until after she was gone that I began to fully comprehend just how beautiful, brilliant and hardcore she truly was.  Listening to everybody speak about her with such passion, watching the slideshows of her amazing accomplishments, communig with people she loved really inspired me.  I felt as if I had been living life too comfortably and conservatively.  I wanted to do something beyond my scope of possibilities and push myself like she did.  So I decided to attempt to run a 100 mile trail race which is something I had always wanted to do, but never believed I actually could do.  Seeing how she lived her life gave me the courage to at least try.  I dedicated my run to Lara and asked friends and family to sponsor me by making a donation to the Lara Kellogg Memorial Fund.  With everybody's support, I ran the Cascade Crest 100 Mile Endurance Run at the end of August.  Her spirit got me through the rain, the muddy night section, the 21,000 ft. of elevation gain and the pounding downhills all the way to the finish line.  Thank you to all who encouraged and supported my efforts.  My employer, Outdoor Research, generously matched donations and together we raised over $7000 for her fund.  That experience changed my life.  It galvanized me and helped realize that although somebody is no longer present in your daily life, their love and legacy will always remain.  

Here's to a New Year full of adventure, illumination and redefining your limits.

Love,

Jenny

Cherished Lessons

Lara was a few years older and light years wiser than me and I am grateful for all the things I learned from her. She taught me how softness is not the same as weakness. She taught me that it’s possible to hold your own and still be kind. And she taught me that sometimes you’ve just got to let fly when someone needs it—but never in a petty way.

Lara also taught me that if you push yourself and do your best it is never a waste, even if things don’t work out like you’d hoped. A good workout and a lesson from life are sometimes prize enough.

A little time has passed now, but I think about her every day as I cross the West Seattle Bridge, every time I see Mt. Rainier in the distance, every time I play in my garden. We used to work together landscaping and now I find her smile in the smell of the earth and plants.

The amazing thing is, even now I feel Lara’s lessons. When something is too hard or too heavy or too far I feel her presence and know that any challenge I meet is there for a reason. When fear or hesitation strikes, I feel her nudge.

With love and gratitude,


Karen Kraft
Seattle, WA

still thinking of you...

Hey Lara, I was driving home from a gig tonight and heard "Tiny Dancer" by Elton John on the radio. It reminded me of driving to California with you in 1985, your head on my shoulder as you slept while I drove all night long in my old Prelude. I remember that song coming on and I sang it to you softly as you snored in my right ear. Everywhere I turn something reminds me of you. I'm in the process of moving and while going through old boxes I found some slides(!) I took of you in 1983. Maybe Tim can help me figure out how to post them. Miss you. Mark

Lara was an amazing friend

I know its been a while but no computer at basecamp.

Mark and I spent last winter climbing and having dinners and going out with her and Chad. She always had everything under control and loved taking care of us, I jokingly started calling her "wife number two" because she always took great care to make sure Mark was well fed and she checked in with Mark every day to see what we were up to.

I was just thinking about the last 24 hours I spent with her in Talkeetna the day before she flew in. She showed up with Jed and was sorting gear on our front lawn; she was tired from everything it took to get to Alaska but was excited. I finally got a chance to take care of her for once, making her dinner (for a change) and finding last minute gear she needed for her climb. That night she gave me a sunflower coffee mug. We share great love for coffee (she turned me on to Petes), and she remembered sunflowers are my favorite.

After dinner and done with the gear sorting we watched a movie and she fell asleep in the middle of it. The next morning we headed to TAT and I will never forget the hug and kiss on the cheek she gave me before getting on the plane; it was filled with love and excitement for her trip and in a weird sense like we weren't going to see each other again. I will always think of Lara as the most motivated person I ever met. She lived every day to its fullest. I am so sad and will miss her so much.
Lisa Roderick

Big Sister, ittle brother...

My dearest Lara,

I am finally home in West Seattle... Last night I went straight to your house (as I always would), and I heard a familiar voice over the fence at Lori's, and it was Roberts!!! They invited me over and we spent the evening eating pizza and drinking wine, and talking about you late into the night... Every once and awhile Jessie would bark and we would take turns yelling at her...JESSIE!!! It felt really good to be there last night...Robert misses you so much! Lori told me that she is intent on getting an open space dedicated to you in West Seattle, you loved West Seattle so much, I know you will enjoy it when it’s done... Later I went over and spent some time with Lippy and Jessie. Lippy told me he misses you. I sat next to him and he put his head on my lap, I couldn't hold back the tears, and I could feel your presence all around me in the house. I didn't want to leave, couldn't make sense of your death, and I miss you so much. Lara, missing your memorials and not being around the one's who loved you was the worst. Yet, my time in the mountains was spent day after day thinking of you. Your presence was with me every step of the way, and this made me smile. Being alone with my thoughts in Tibet, and not having anyone around who knew you made it very difficult. I would tell random people how amazing you were and still are to me... I am going to spend time this week doing things that we enjoyed doing together. Celebrating your amazing life, that you wore so well. Living the moment, being the moment, and having fun… Lara, I miss you so much!!! I will check in with Lippy as much as I can…

Your friend,

Eric

A Fitting Testimony

You don't know me. Nobody in her circle does. But I remember her...

Lara was always in two places at once and yet firmly grounded.
Somehow, she would at once grasp the details of electromagnetics and
still be thinking of those mountains... the glint in her eye gave her
away... and her endless smile. Lara and I shared classes at Seattle
Central Community College in the early 90's. She would often regail
us with tails of her adventures. It was hard to understand,
sometimes, what she was doing in that classroom when she was so
enraptured by being out there... but when that smile would explode
across her face and the eyes would narrow and her love for the natural
world would nearly overtake her... well, it did overtake us... and we
understood, in a way at least. As much as she lived for sensation, I
believe there was also a part of her that needed and sought the purely
abstract ... It was part of the balance that gave her elegance and
grace. I haven't seen or talked to Lara for many years. And yet
somehow, learning of her loss touches me deeply. A fitting testimony
to her and her legacy... her immortality.

Chris Hivick

20 May: Tibetan Buddhist Ceremony for Lara

Location: Sakya Buddhist Monastery in Greenwood
Date: This Sunday May 20th
Time: 9:30AM

In honor of Lara’s many travels and explorations of different cultures, Chad and friends have chosen to honor her with a Buddhist ceremony. When we first started talking about doing this we thought that Lara would love the idea of such a unique ceremony. For many of us it may be our first experience with a Buddhist service, which is reminder of how Lara loved adventure and was always glad to try something new.

In traditional Buddhist beliefs the 4th Sunday after passing, which for Lara is May 20th, is a special time to honor the individual. A dedication of merit for her will be recited as part of the traditional Chenrezi practice. This is a prayer for loving kindness and compassion. We will also have a reading of the Aspiration of Samantabhadra, which is a prayer that increases the magnitude of our intent for the recipient. With the love we all have for Lara, it feels very appropriate that we would honor her with a Tibetan ceremony.

All is confirmed for Sunday's Buddhist service from 10:00-noon (we are encouraged to show up at 9:30). Chad will be bring a special photo of Lara. The service will be followed by a communal meal for all.

Please note there is no need to bring flowers or food, we will be making a small donation for the service. We hope to see you then.

Questions:
Anthippy Petras
206-323-7706
apetras(at)u.washington.edu

Directions:
Sakya Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism
108 NW 83rd Street Seattle, WA 98117
USA Tel: (206) 789-2573
Fax: (206) 789-3994
Monastery@Sakya.org

Sakya Monastery is located in the Greenwood neighborhood of Seattle. To get to Sakya Monastery, from Interstate 5 take the 85th Street Exit and go West. You will cross Aurora Avenue, then cross Greenwood Ave. N. At the second light after Greenwood Ave. N., make a left hand turn onto 1st Ave. NW. Go two blocks and Sakya Monastery is on your right at the intersection of 1st Ave. NW and NW 83rd St.