Kilimanjaro Expedition Dispatch

September 15, 2008 – Time to Reflect on My Accomplishment

Wondrous views from the top of Kilimanjaro

Hello from Dave and Ginny! Gin and I are back together, safe and sound. We are loving everything, thanks to BAI.

We are off on safari to recover before heading home.

As I mend from my climb, I think back to the “how and why” I climbed Kilimanjaro. “How”, I’m not sure but definitely with the help of 12 able bodied young men and a guide. I also felt that I couldn’t stop because I’d disappoint myself and all those cheering for me to succeed. I sensed your positive energy and caring even when my body said “stop”. Gin even got up the night of my climb, looked up at the full moon and stars and whispered, “go for it Dave”.

“Why”, now seems even less obvious. It may be because at 65, I didn’t want to feel old. I did feel old the night of my climb, lying in my sleeping bag nauseated, shivering and aching. I felt very old.

Looking back I didn’t feel so old starting up the mountain (transmission interrupted). I didn’t feel so old when I walked by climbers who appeared to be having a difficult time. I also didn’t feel so old when a young man in our BAI camp greeted me with congratulations in English and a Swahili, a high five and a fist tap. Age is a reality you can’t ignore and this would be my lesson.

Goodbye Kilimanjaro, hello Safari lodge! Love to all, Dave and Ginny.