I never met Lacy Meadows, but he was close to a few of my friends and many of their friends, a group of avid back country skiers here in Colorado. Lacy passed away last month, skiing alone in Rocky Mountain National Park–apparently doing what he loved and living life to it’s fullest. I can’t get Lacy out of my head. The words of his friends are moving, speaking of his wide smile and zest for life:
“Of all the people in the world, there are some that touch you more than others – and he was one of those,” said David Bahr, a close friend and ski partner of Meadows’ for almost a decade. “He was someone you’d always want along and someone you trusted with your life.”(from Boulder’s Daily Camera Newspaper)
“Lacy was an avid and passionate skier, both inbounds and in the backcountry. He had unending energy that resonated with each and every person he met,” Brittany Walker said. “An honest soul and a great friend, Lacy lived and loved every day of his life to the fullest.” (from http://14erskiers.com/blog/2010/07/in-loving-memory-of-lacy-meadows/)
“Lacy was one hell of a skier. He loved to ski. I love to ski, but the way that Lacy loved to ski blew everyone I know out of the water. He loved a long hike, with a steep technical descent. He was known as the powder prophet, because he could always find the good snow on a bad snow day. Or as he would say, on a less better ski day because there are no bad ski days. He had this grin that I think I’ll remember for the rest of my life. It was infectious, when you saw it in full bloom you got stoked. His passion and enthusiasm came radiating out everytime that grin showed up. And you better believe that no matter what he was skiing, he was grinning.” (from http://snowwander.blogspot.com/2010/07/rip-lacy-meadows-july-24-2010.html)
Lacy did what he loved and he changed people by simply living hard and in the moment. By squeezing out every last drop of joy from life he could muster, he has left a legacy and clearly will be missed.
Becoming an adult isn’t easy. Running a business, planning a wedding, living the 9-5 grind, raising kids, fighting the hard fights… And I’ve been struggling with those big questions lately, the “what’s it all for?” and “Why are we here?” kind of stuff. If Lacy’s death can teach anyone anything (and I think it already has) it’s finding out what means the most to you and choosing to live it. Live your life by whatever creed you choose, but live it big, without fear and without remorse. I know when I go out, I want to be remembered like the people who love Lacy remember him.
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