The Story is in the Telling

< Newer | Older > Mon, 06/23/2008 - 10:33 — taloeffler

Getting close now...Jambo to All and Happy Birthday to my Niece Rayne,

A story saves a life a little
at a time by making us
see and hear and taste our lives
and dreams more deeply. 
A story does not rescue life
at the end heroically,
but all along the road continually. 
I do not make the story,
the story makes me.
(Witherell and Noddings)

I’ve been back in St. John’s for 36 hours and I’m trying rapidly to get my feet on the ground here.  Not that I really want to have my feet on the ground here as I remember the sights and sounds of Africa, but out of necessity in the week that needs to unfold in front of me.  Thanks to all who came on the journey-it was all the richer since it was shared every step of the way.

TA and her favourite flag atop KilimanjaroThis is “post-partum” time in which I grieve the adventure past and (more than usual) the loss of the adventure group.  The moments shared will never be again though their memories will live on in the stories I tell of them.  As I transition home, I get to tell the stories of Kilimanjaro, some already public, some private and I get to watch which stories rise to the time like cream on fresh milk; the stories that have a creamy richness that will inspire me to tell them over and over again.  On first tellings, stories of laughter, camaraderie, and the power of will and determination erupt like pregnant lava.

In the quieter tellings, stories of landscapes inner and outer, of a deep fear of losing a friend to an altitude illness, of navigating terrain familiar yet so foreign at the same time, flow slowly from the same core.  I wait to see what tellings are yet to be told and what exploration of my various voices of telling will bring in terms of memory and understanding.  Each experience transforms from when we live it to when we recount it to when we pull it from the pool of inspiration that informs and inspires us.

The WOKies at the Machame Gate about to start the big climb/adventureAs you can see, I am in a deeply reflective space as I transition in from one continent of being to another.  Thanks for listening, both now and as the telling continues.  I’m off to prep a keynote and make birthday plans for tomorrow.  I’ve some pictures to my website: www.taloeffler.com and to my facebook account: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=125489&l=0eba1&id=509940550  I invite you to poke around and see some of them.

Have a good week,

TA

Messages

''home''

Visitor — Mon, 06/23/2008 - 11:10

welcome ''home''. whats next? regards[ken.nz]

Daughter of Everest

taloeffler — Mon, 06/23/2008 - 17:42

Ken,

Thanks for the welcome home. I am climbing Everest's Daughter, Pumori in October. I see it as a decision-point around my next attempt on Everest. I'll spend nearly a month looking over at its flanks and figure I'll know in my heart how things might/can/should unfold.

TA

another welcome home

sarah — Mon, 06/23/2008 - 21:03

Jill, Dallas, TX
TA, I followed your entire trip to Kili - just did not feel the need to "coach" because all of you were doing so well - and you had sooo many others encouraging you. I'm so happy all of you had a great experience. I can certainly understand the "post-partum" part. I experienced the same thing after my trek to Everest Base Camp.
I finished your book - a very good read! I knew a lot of the story but it was fun to relive it and also to learn some other things about you. If you are ever in the southern U.S. between TX and Florida, let us know in case we can come and meet you.
So glad you already have your next adventure in mind. Pumori - very interesting! Will you trek into Pumori Base Camp on the same route as to EBC? Please keep us updated as you train since we are now "addicted" to your posts. Jill Upton, Dallas

Will do

taloeffler — Tue, 06/24/2008 - 05:27

Jill,

Thanks for coming along for another adventure. I'll definitely let you know if my travels include the southern US. Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed the book. The trek into Pumori is the same as EBC...the routes diverge after Gorak Shep. I'm looking forward to trekking that route for the third time-it's such an amazing walk.

TA

Idea

sarah — Tue, 06/24/2008 - 16:06

Jill, Dallas, TX
Would it benefit you in any way (I know it would benefit those who did it) to invite those who have followed your adventures to trek with you part or all the way - at least to Gorek Shep??? I'll bet you would have a few who would/could. Just a thought. It might just be a distraction for you. They could pay a little extra for the privilege and the extra could help defray your expenses. I would certainly entertain the thought of going myself - except at the higher altitudes of Lobuche and Gorek Shep, my heart skipped around a little at rest (not moving). It made me slightly nervous. I would LOVE to do it, however!

I've wondered...

taloeffler — Tue, 06/24/2008 - 18:31

I'm definitely planning to have folks trek in with me when I reattempt Everest (as soon as I climb Pumori and commit to "really" doing Everest again). The company I am climbing with (Peak Freaks) is offering a trek to the mountain with the climbing expedition so anyone who wants to come along can sign up with them. Things get going in Kathmandu October 2-through about the 19th I think for the trek...it's a tea house trek followed by a few days in tents at our Pumori basecamp. A unique chance to do the trek in the company of climbers, see a puja, etc.

TA

Match game try Number4

Visitor — Mon, 06/23/2008 - 21:44

Hi Ladies here is my guess number four:
1.Leslie-Mountain momma-loin in a zebras body
2.TA Boga-secretary bird
3.Abigail-Pitbull-cheetah
4.Karen-Graceful tart -little bat
5.Nancey-code a crome-lilalic brest roller
6.Ann Marie-Hedi-heartebeest
7.Flora:VitmanK-colombus monkey
8.Wanda-Mojo-giraffe
9.Diane-Tailwind-gazelle
10.Sweep-warthog.
So here is my guess nomber four and a happy birthday for tomarrow to TA .Carla

Getting Warmer

taloeffler — Tue, 06/24/2008 - 05:25

Carla,

Thanks for the birthday greetings. You're getting closer...numbers 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, and 9 are completely right...the others need a few switches in African animals...

TA

Match game try Number5

Visitor — Tue, 06/24/2008 - 20:46

Here is try number five:
1/Leslie-mountain momma -loin in a zebras body.
2.TA Boga-Secretary bird
3.Abigail-Pitbull-cheetah
4.Karen-graceful tart-Lialic brest roller
5.Nancey-code a crome-heartabeest
6.Ann Marie-Hedi-warthog
7.Flora-VitmanK columbus monkey
8.Wanda-mojo-giraffe
9.Diane-Tailwind-gazelle
10.Marian-Sweep-little bat
here is my 5 guess.Carla

Very close

taloeffler — Wed, 06/25/2008 - 01:22

Just two more animals need switching and all will be well...

Good work Carla.

TA

number 6

Visitor — Wed, 06/25/2008 - 02:46

here I go again:
1.Leslie-mountain momma -loin in a zebras body
2.TA-Boga-secretary bird
3.Abigail-pitbull-cheetah
4.Karen-graceful tart-heartebeest
5.Nancey-codeacrome-lalic brest roller
6.Ann marie-hedi-warthog
7.Flora-vitmanK-colombus monkey
8.Wanda-Mojo-giraffe
9.Diane-Tailwind-gazelle
10.Marian-sweep-little bat.
these are my next guess.Carla

A story saves a life a little at a time...

Nick Grainger — Fri, 06/27/2008 - 12:38

'...If I can live deeply enough, I will not feel the need to live this life again'

TA, I was interested to see you are a fan of 'Stories Lives Tell' by Witherell & Noddings. One of my favourites too.

Another quote I like is from Wilma on p9,
'How many generations to work a story down to size, to rub away the burrs and sawdust of its making? You have to forget 90% of what happens if you want to tell the story right'.

You may have noticed my drawing on Witherell and Noddings in my suggestions to writers on this website (I think it's under 'Help & FAQ'). I drew too on W & N in my PhD dissertation on Expedition Communication and the Internet.

Nick

Sharing Stories

taloeffler — Fri, 06/27/2008 - 14:43

Hey Nick,

It was your listing of W & N that led me to them...I appreciate getting to know their work through you. Was just attending a conference on teaching and learning in higher education and one of the themes was the power of narrative. I've been very interested in watching how the stories of our Kilimanjaro climb unfold, get told, retold, and how what's important from the experience changes over time and telling.

Thanks,

TA

Try number 7

Visitor — Fri, 06/27/2008 - 16:05

Here is my next guess:
1.Leslie-Mountain momma-loin in a zebras body
2.TA-Boga-secreatary burd
3.Abigail-pitbull-cheetah
4.Flora -vitmanK-colombus monkey
5.Wanda-Mojo-giraffe
6.Diane-Tailwind-gazelle
7.Karen-Gracefultart-warthog
8.Nancey-Codea crome-Lilalic brest roller
9.Ann marie-Heartebeest-Hedi
10.Marian-Little bat-sweep.
Here is my next guesses.Carla

match game try number 8

Visitor — Mon, 06/30/2008 - 13:05

HI here I go again:
1.Leslie-Mountian momma-loin in a zebras body
2.TA Boga-secretatry bird
3.Abilgail-pitbull-cheetah
4.Flora-vitmanK-colombus monkey
5.Wanda-Mojo-giraffe
6.Daine-Tailwind-gazelle
7.Karen-graceful tart-warthog
8.Nancey-code a crome-Lilalic brest roller
9.Ann marie-hedi-little bat
10.Marian-sweep-heartebeest.Carla

8, 9 and 10

taloeffler — Mon, 06/30/2008 - 19:21

Carla,

A plus for perseverance...8, 9, and 10 need a little adjustment in the Afican animal department...

TA

try number 9

Visitor — Tue, 07/01/2008 - 02:46

Here is my next guess:
1.leslie-mountain momma-loin in a zebras body
2.TA-Boga-sectary bird
3.Abigail-Pitbull-cheetah
4.Flora-vitmanK-colombus monkey
5.Wanda-mojo-giraffe
6.Diane-tailwind-gazelle
7.Karen-gracefultert-warthog
8.Nancey-codea crom-little bat
9.Ann marie-Hedi-Heartebeast
10.marian-sweep-lialic brest roller here is my next guess.Carla

Match game try Number10

Visitor — Tue, 07/01/2008 - 18:06

Hi I think I got them all now
1.Leslie-Mountain momma
2.TA boga-secreary bird
3.Abigail-Pitbull-cheetah
4.Flora-VitmanK-colombus monkey
5.Wanda-Mojo-giraffe
6.Diane-Tailwind-gazelle
7.Karen-graceful tart-warthog
8.Nancey-codeadrome-Hearetabest
9.Annmarie-Hedi-littlebat
10.Marian-sweep-lialic brest roller.Here is guess number 10.Carla

One more switch will do it

taloeffler — Wed, 07/02/2008 - 00:44

Carla,

So close...9 and 10 are off...everything else is right!

TA

try number 11

Visitor — Wed, 07/02/2008 - 02:44

Here I go again
1.Leslie-Mountain momma-loin in a zebras body
2.TA-Boga-Secretary bird
3.Abigail-Pitbull-cheetah
4.Flora-VitmanK-colombus monkey
5.Wanda-Mojo-giraffe
6.Diane-Tailwind-gazelle
7.Karen-gracefultart-warthog
8.Nancey-codeacrome-heartbest
9.AnnMarie-hedi-lialic brest roller
10.Marian-sweep-little bat,This is my next guess.Carla

You're right!

taloeffler — Thu, 07/03/2008 - 18:10

Carla,

Spot on!

Way to go. Perseverance pays.

TA