11/11 is a day to honor heroes who helped bring peace to our country when a ceasefire agreement was signed bringing World War I to close at 11:00am on November 11, 1918 President Woodrow Wilson called 11/11 Armistice Day in 1919 and then later in 1954, President Eisenhower proclaimed 11/11 as Veteran’s Day.

For me personally, 11/11 became a date that will forever honor my late husband, Nate, and his contributions of community through coffee and bikes to the Vail Valley. It’s the day we cut the ribbon for Lov Connection, a trail that connects Pipeline and Abrams. It’s the perfect kind of fun on a bike with a few twisty turny ascents followed by swoopy, flowy descents.

When the Town of Eagle decided to name the trail Lov Connection it was quite an honor. Nate was a hero in our community by the way he valiantly and publicly shared his cancer journey. He was was a creative entrepreneur was was slinging coffee by day at Yeti’s Grind and painting bikes by night for Lov Bikes (L.O.V. = Love Our Valley).

His big giddy smile, colorful style and an innate ability to be a positive light through all the challenges he faced is how we remember him today.Nate’s ongoing cancer journey was one that tugged on heart strings near, far and even to those who didn’t know him. I am still abundantly grateful for the generous support and love we felt from all.

He was first diagnosed in 2009, only two years after starting the coffee shop. Back then we didn’t talk about the cancer much and even tried to cover it up thinking that would make the illness go away. After all, we were busy and had coffee to serve and bikes to build, paint, ride and race!

This seemed to work for awhile, the cancer was absent for 6 years and we went back to the flow of living life. But then in 2015 it returned with a vengeance, the melanoma that had started as a mole finally metastasized. At this point with two coffee shops and a bike business, we couldn’t hide the cancer from our compassionate Vail Valley community so we shared openly and vulnerably with all. Moving through the emotions and grief rather than stuffing it down was cathartic and we felt the power of the people who prayed, sent love, light and positive vibes our way.

When Nate was within his last few weeks of life, I wondered if he would pass on a significant date. I’m not sure why I cared but I did. Perhaps it’s because I felt that losing my partner of 16 years was the most significant thing that would happen to me. So days ticked by through November and 11/22, two days before Thanksgiving in 2016 became the day Nate passed. 22 was Nate’s favorite number and soccer number from high school and 11 + 11 = 22 so it seemed significant, serendipitous and even a little surreal.

Now how does this relate to why we chose 11/11 as the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony date? I probably would have chosen 11/22 as a memorial for Nate but the trails close down for elk migration season mid November. Since 11 is half of 22 surely 11/11 just seemed right. Then I remembered that is also Veteran’s Day. After a moment of hesitation, I realized that veterans are heroes and Nate was a hero. We are all heroes along our own journey. Lov sweet Love honors all, right? There was a unanimous consensus at the Town Hall Meeting to celebrate the Lov Connection 11/11 and the next day Nate even shone a rainbow down over Yeti’s Grind, our coffee shop to show he was stoked too :)

Rainbow over Yeti’s Grind after we decided to host the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on 11/11

The 11/11 Lov Connection Ribbon Cutting was more than just breaking trail, it was a moment to honor life and love. Rainbows were all around, even on the ribbon itself and Nate was looking down with that big giddy smile, honored that the small charming mountain town he found 16 years before would become his final resting grounds on a trail that radiates lov sweet love.

Today I honor those who have served our country to bring peace. Today and always I also honor Natestrong...the partner he was, the life we lived together, the legacy he left. I cherish the signs he continues to send as if to nudge me along the right path in life full of love, service and purpose. He is always in my heart and those hearts of others forever too. Today I also honor YOU as we all have our own heroes journey we are walking along in life. The question is will we all rise to the challenge and accept the adventure? That’s up to you and me but it’s an inspiring place in life to be.

Namaste - The light, love and humble honor is in me as it is in you. 🙏🏼❤️🌈😘

The community coming together for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Lov Connection!

pic by Jack Affleck - lululemon ambassador shot after the trail was named Lov connec

11/11, A Day for Heroes

Info

Action