TRURO - Having gone through seven pens already, it looks like it'll be another seven before Alyssa Roy is finished writing.
Roy, 17, is writing a letter to Ellen DeGeneres every day for a year.
"I would love to get some response from her," said Roy with a smile. "My goal is to meet her."
When her mom, Marianne, started watching ‘Ellen' years ago, the Truro teenager would often watch the daytime talk show as well, not knowing what it would lead to.
"I would record it and watch it when I got home from school. I just became obsessed with the show. I love seeing her, listening to her and watching her interview other people."
Because Roy's friends knew of her obsession for the show host, one friend mentioned a concept from Nicholas Sparks' book and movie ‘The Notebook.'
"The main character wrote a letter to the woman he loved every day for a year and my friend said I should do that," Roy said, adding she thought it was a great idea.
"But I didn't realize it would be so hard."
On Valentine's Day, Roy started writing to Ellen and she writes a one-page letter each day. She writes in a "pretty" blue ink, "because blue is Ellen's favourite colour."
Usually writing about that day's show, Roy always explains in the introduction why she's writing to Ellen and what number letter she's on.
"While I usually talk about that day's show, in the summer it's harder because the shows are repeats," she said.
"So I'll talk about something specific about that day, like it being Ellen and her wife, Portia DeRossi's, anniversary or something that she tweeted that day."
And it can be expensive too. Roy works at the library in Truro and she has been using some of her money to pay for the stamps for every letter - it costs $1.05 per letter to send.
"By the time I'm done, it will be just under $400," she said.
Mailing seven letters at a time, Roy writes the letter number on the back of each envelope and her halfway mark - 183 letters - was on Aug. 14.
"That was a bit of a milestone for me."
Walking to the mailbox a block away from her house, Roy usually has her mother accompany her, and she often takes pictures on various milestones.
"I have pictures of my 100th letter and 150th," Roy said, adding she also mails pictures with the letters.
"I mailed her my grad pic with the first letter and then at the end of June, Ellen was talking about it being prom time so I sent a prom picture."
Roy also included a USB drive in one letter that contained her submission to Ellen's ‘Dance Dare Challenge.'
"She challenged people to dance behind other people without getting caught. I was in our school musical this year, so during rehearsals my friends would video me dancing behind all the cast members."
Although she hasn't had any response yet to any of her letters, Roy is hoping her goal will get her a little bit of recognition.
"I really want to meet her," she said.
Marianne sees her daughter's efforts and said she's proud to support her.
"It's fun. She adds so much life to everything," Marianne said, adding she knew her daughter would continue with her plan to the end.
"When she gets something in her mind, she goes for it. Fast forward and collapse - those are her two speeds."
Along with her mother, Roy said she's gotten a ton of support and encouragement.
"From friends and family to teachers. They are so supportive of me. I've never gotten anything negative about it."
To see Roy's ‘Dance Dare' video, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaWxXE9toQs.
rtetanish@trurodaily.com
ABOUT ALYSSA ROY:
Graduated from: Cobequid Educational Centre in June
Further education: Mount Saint Vincent University in the fall to study public relations
School dedication: She was involved in various school committees, such as council, and was head of school spirit and also ran cross country track
Acting: She played the cow in the CEC musical ‘Into the Woods'
Started writing a letter a day to Ellen Degeneres: On Feb. 14, 2012
About ELLEN DeGENERES:
Full name: Ellen Lee DeGeneres
Age: 54
Born in: Louisiana, U.S.
Spouse: Portia de Rossi
Known for: Acting, stand-up comedy, television, film, books
Emmy awards: Outstanding talk show, outstanding talk show host, outstanding writing in a comedy, funniest female stand-up comic, etc.
