Friday, January 11, 2008
Ah somehow I knew there'd be some life here. I never had the chance to meet Sir Ed, but I did get to meet and spend some time with his teammate George Lowe. He shared some stories with me about the work they had done, and continued to do in Nepal, and as he spoke, I was struck by the clear honesty and humbleness of these actions. I believe now as I believed then that we would be lucky to see another generation of explorers like this group.
However, Lori is absolutely right in referencing Greg Mortensen - the guy and his operation completely blow me away. His book "Three Cups of Tea" is not the best written /edited work yet, but the story is incredible and I think is a must read.
However, Lori is absolutely right in referencing Greg Mortensen - the guy and his operation completely blow me away. His book "Three Cups of Tea" is not the best written /edited work yet, but the story is incredible and I think is a must read.
BTW to my friends up north ---
CST, I can't believe that you've outted me as the conservative tax-cut lovin', gay-hatin', God-fearin', immigrant-deportin' O'Reilly fan that I am. Sigh. Now the world knows.
(actually, seriously, how many Obama 08 bumper stickers/yard signs/ski caps do you want?)
Bruce, as soon as your government gets its act together (I mean, at least WE know we're going to have an election soon. Please let us know when you folks make up your minds!), your beer fridge will be seized. So you might want to start draining your keggerator soon.
And if we're resolved to trading insults -- oh, I'm sorry. Let me rephrase -- if we're committing ourselves to more ongoing international dialog -- on a regular basis, please advise. I'll drop back in more often. I just got tired of sitting in here all by myself. Being the eco-freak that I am, I just sat in here, with all the lights and heat off, by myself waiting for someone else to show up. I got cold, and lonely, and scared in the dark. And I missed you. So I'd just sit here alone and cry.
If you'll be here, I will too.
{{group hug}}
'Kay?
CST, I can't believe that you've outted me as the conservative tax-cut lovin', gay-hatin', God-fearin', immigrant-deportin' O'Reilly fan that I am. Sigh. Now the world knows.
(actually, seriously, how many Obama 08 bumper stickers/yard signs/ski caps do you want?)
Bruce, as soon as your government gets its act together (I mean, at least WE know we're going to have an election soon. Please let us know when you folks make up your minds!), your beer fridge will be seized. So you might want to start draining your keggerator soon.
And if we're resolved to trading insults -- oh, I'm sorry. Let me rephrase -- if we're committing ourselves to more ongoing international dialog -- on a regular basis, please advise. I'll drop back in more often. I just got tired of sitting in here all by myself. Being the eco-freak that I am, I just sat in here, with all the lights and heat off, by myself waiting for someone else to show up. I got cold, and lonely, and scared in the dark. And I missed you. So I'd just sit here alone and cry.
If you'll be here, I will too.
{{group hug}}
'Kay?
When I think of Hillary, I think of his work through the Himalayan Trust, which is quite a legacy. Plus, he provided leadership to the Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation that does similar work in Nepal, as well as ecological conservation work.
When I think of Hillary, I think about Greg Mortenson whose schools deep in the dark tribal regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan -- where al Queda and the Taliban do as they wish -- these schools being built by an American climber bring schools, education and light. I can't imagine that Mortenson would have even thought that building schools half a world away was possible except that Hillary had already proven it could be done.
We never know who or what or how we might influence. But I bet Sir Ed influenced a lot of people to do a lot of good and great things.
A pebble falls into a lake. Its ripples are felt for miles.
I bet the view is even better where he is now than it was from Everest.
Sleep sweetly Sir Ed.
When I think of Hillary, I think about Greg Mortenson whose schools deep in the dark tribal regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan -- where al Queda and the Taliban do as they wish -- these schools being built by an American climber bring schools, education and light. I can't imagine that Mortenson would have even thought that building schools half a world away was possible except that Hillary had already proven it could be done.
We never know who or what or how we might influence. But I bet Sir Ed influenced a lot of people to do a lot of good and great things.
A pebble falls into a lake. Its ripples are felt for miles.
I bet the view is even better where he is now than it was from Everest.
Sleep sweetly Sir Ed.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/10/world/asia/11cnd-hillary.html?hp
Reading this excellent summation of a world long-past, I can't help but recall childhood memories of books about Hillary (the hot lemonade he drank on Everest seemed very appealing--my own experience in the Himalayas is that hot Tang is the best) and perusing National Geographic (I'm not sure I actually read the articles). A more innocent era indeed.
Reading this excellent summation of a world long-past, I can't help but recall childhood memories of books about Hillary (the hot lemonade he drank on Everest seemed very appealing--my own experience in the Himalayas is that hot Tang is the best) and perusing National Geographic (I'm not sure I actually read the articles). A more innocent era indeed.
Labels: end of an era
