Relative Something

As much as I’d like to credit myself for having had the inspiration, resources, and abilities to undertake a trek to see Mt. Everest all on my own, credit deserves to be given to those who have helped me to make it happen.

To start, here’s to Jim Klobuchar, who published columns describing his annual bike trips around the state and then kept the trips going long after his retirement. The year I first began riding on his Jaunt-with-Jim bike trips, it was their 20th. This year will be the 35th. Jim also guides international trips through Jim Klobuchar’s Adventures travel club, including, “The Dominion of Everest,” the trek that I am participating in.

It was at the beginning of last year’s bike trip that I had dinner with Ed & Deanna Newman, who had gone on Jim’s Himalayan Trek the year before, and they sparked the first inspiration that this might be the trip for me. On that same bike ride I met Gary Larson. I don’t know that I am yet able to describe how special that is. Turns out, he was having inspirations of taking the trek to see Everest, as well. We now jokingly each boast that it is the other guy’s fault we are involved in this adventure.

Most of all, when I think of being on a mountain, I think of my mom, Elizabeth (Betty) Elliott Hays. She spent time in the mountains of Glacier National Park, Montana, as a lookout on a fire tower with my dad when they were first married. In my mind, just my being in the Himalayan Mountains will be in honor of her. At the time of her death, I was still only contemplating how I would achieve a trip such as this. She has provided me the financial ability to do this during uncertain economic times and I am proud to honor her life by dedicating this trek in memory of her.

I try not to pay too much attention to the fact that this year I am reaching the milestone of my 50th birthday, but my in-laws, Fred & Marie Friswold, have helped me to be sure and notice by gifting me early with additional financial support for this Himalayan Trek. In addition to that, their support goes well beyond this, in many other ways behind the scenes, back so far that I owe them credit for my freedom to have even ridden all those bike trips in the first place.

I also want to thank everyone at Source Engineering & Manufacturing, especially, Gary Engelhart, for their support and for allowing me to be away from the workplace for such an extended time.  I’ll try not to make too many more jokes about not being certain whether or not I will come back from Nepal.

Lastly, it is by sad coincidence of timing that I will add Charlotte (Peterson) Enblom to my tribute list due to her recent passing from this Earth. As the mother of my life-long friend, Eric, and matriarch of a fantastic clan of individuals, she will be strong in my thoughts this week and I will bring her with me into the high elevations that naturally bring to mind, planes of existence beyond our reach…

Precious folks, every one. I am blessed to be traveling with their/(your) names on my heart and in my mind.

Departure, just days away now…