Day #17

Location: Mt. Everest Basecamp
Altitude: 5364m
Local Time: 7:00pm / April 13
Weather: Cool (30's) windy/snowing

I just posted my first blog in a few days days and may have accidently posted twice ... if so, please disregard. My brother Danny, who is monitoring the site, will edit as needed. However, I do have your messages and want to respond.

Your Messages:

Carol:
Hi sweetheart. Thanks for your wonderful email about the memories of our wedding day, the Robert Mills House in Columbia where we got married, and my presence here in Nepal where we were engaged. Look forward to sharing maany more of those memories with you.
Love you :>)

AORN Friends:

Bonnie ... thanks for ther prayers and well wishes. I think of all of you in Denver while here in the mountains and am jealous that you get these views everyday! Thanks for sending strength ... I need it!

Rose ... thanks for the peace offerings, but don't offer up too many Fat Tires. Had lunch with a guy today who echoes my love of that brew!

Columbia Friends:

Amy ... thanks for your kind words regaarding my friend Sean. Please remember to keep Carol busy while I'm gone.

Greg ... great to hear from you and no worries ... I plan to follow Sean's advice of "Festina Lente". I look forward to your wedding on my return and can't wait to share the pics. Please say hi to Priscilla and do drop by and visit Carol.

Richard & Karen ... hey guys, great to hear from you. I look forward to cocktails on my return and a renewed friendship. Sure have missed you guys! Thanks for the hockey update ... Go Sens!

Belinda ... great to hear from you. Glad that Carol shared the site. Thanks for the kind words and support. Try to give Carol moral support as she may need it from time to time due to my absence.

Palmetto Health Friends:

Sandra ... thanks for your kind words regarding my friend Sean. My breathlessness during the audioblog was due in part to emotion, high wind, and a challenging climb. I am surprised at how well I feel in basecamp. I still awake early in the morning with slight breathlessness, and is supposed to get worse as I go higher. Thanks so much for your lovely quotes ... look forward to using them in the book! Look forward to the icefall tomorrow!

Allison ... thanks for your continued support and it is a privilege to be able to do what I am doing for Sean. I feel the weight of all my friends that I am "dragging to the top" ... but it is a welcome weight!

USC Friends:

Alan, Don, Kameron, Kate, & Jessica ... thanks for your recent postings and for keeping me in your prayers. I miss everyone at school and look forward to my return.

Liesl ... thanks for the kind words and updates. The poster picture was taken by Carol in Colorado on a hiking vacation. She can probably give you more specifics! Have you spoken to Kate at Palmetto Health Richland yet? I am fine for taped or live interviews. Remember that I am 10 hrs. ahead of you and we go to bed here quite early as it is cold (usually 9pm). However, I am willing to do whatever is needed for the Summit Scholarship! Have we had any more donations? Take care, and don't worry ... "Festina Lente" is my mantra!

Mary Foster ... great to hear from you! Glad that all is well at school. I sure miss everyone and can't wait to see all of you again. Thanks for the prayers ... I need them. Did you ever talk to Jim regarding your frieend?

Lisa ... yes, the adventure starts tommorow as we hit the Khumbu icefall!

Judy ... thanks for the support. The rolos are safe, as I am!

Canadian Friends:

Johnny ... thanks for the Easter update. So glad to hear that Mom is being kept abreast of all the news. Missed ham/turkey this year ... believe I had Yak!

Danny ... thanks again for your editing and delivery of messages. I did receive everything after I emailed you a few hours ago! Keep up the good work!

All The Others:

Larry ... thanks for the multiple postings over the past few days. Great to hear that your new car is almost a reality.I do like your proposal of a ride to Hooters for beers ... may have to run that one by Carol. Keep in touch and keep calling Carol, whether or not you need help with taxes!

Kristen & Danielle ... glad that you got to enjoy the Davis Cup with Carol and your Mom, and glad to hear that Andy Roddick won ... wish I could have been there! Thanks also for taking care of the business we discussed ... I appreciate it very much. Glad to hear that your interview went well ... let me know as soon as you hear the outcome. Enjoy your Spring Break and visit Aunt Carol.

Gavin ... hey, I think that Kathmandu weather is headed here! Yes, we did hike up Chukung Ri and outside Gorak Shep we did Kalapathar. Enjoying lots of varieties of tea and food here in basecamp.

Bill & Michelle ... thanks for th lovely messages of support. Yes, it was very emotional at Sean's memorial and I probably should have waited a while before posting the audioblog, however it was quite powerful for me!
If you plan to use horse manure for a warm winter fire ... don't invite us over!

Ann ...thanks for the kind words of support as I kind of got caught up in the emotion of the event. I am sure that there will be lots more emotions before this is done. Glad to hear that spring has sprung!

MC ... yes, I look forward to taking Sean's ashes to the top of the world. He was a great friend and sorely missed!
Best of luck for your upcoming climbs ... very admirable goals! Enjoy the journey and relish the views.

David aka Demento ... my breathlessnes was a combination of both! Thanks for ther fluid updates ... will keep in mind! I slept well for first night at basecamp and no headaches! Still have a little SOB in early am.

Bill ... thanks for the kind words regarding my emotional description of Sean's memorial. I will indeed pay heed to "Festina Lente" and plan to take it easy!

Sherri & Jim ... glad to hear that you are following along, and most importantly glad to hear that Jim took a vacation! Tell him that Kathmandu is quite the scene!

Paul aka Soulmate ... great to hear from you and hope that you can really enjoy this trip as much as I am! Yes, Carol was true that we are soulmates as we have so muh in common and such parallel paths. I spoke to Carol recently and said that friendships are what I value most in life and I plan on keeping in touch with those that matter most ... and that means a ski vacation to visit you this coming winter! You are probably touching just as many lives as I am as you deal with patients on a daily basis and no doubt have a very caring touch! Remember to slow down in your daily life and enjoy the moments ... as they pass too quickly!

Peter ... I will be sure to pass along your greetings for Ward. It has been great getting to know him and the other fellow climbers. All are special in their own way!

Brad ... glad to hear that Amanda passed you on to my blog. She is a great student and has so much potential. She will make a great nurse! I am hopeful that I can instill in my students that all of us have the capacity to do so much more. I am hopeful that through my example more will develop and follow their goals to a rewarding life as I have done. I believe that my students know that I am there for them and will support them in those goals!

Shanda ... it's a small world, isn't it! I kept in touch with Harold during Sean's climb, and have done so since! Sean had an ability to touh people and I feel privileged to be his friend! Keep in touch!

Mel ... great to hear from you! I have enjoyed getting to know Mike (he is sitting beside me now at supper). He sends his regards and wants all to know is doing great!

Bob & Jess ... it's an influx of Kiwis! Mike will email you when he figures out how to work the system here! He is doing great!