In the last days of 2011, I wanted to write about my last 12 months of climbing mountains to raise awareness and research funds for Alzheimer’s, but I couldn’t find the words. The emotions and gratitude are immense. I could only come up with the following in hopes it expresses my feeling to everyone who made a donation, everyone who followed the journey and to everyone impacted by Alzheimer’s. And we are not finished.
I climbed mountains in 2011. Not for summits but for a message.
Words are what we have. What we use. A collection of letters struggling to express emotions, thoughts, memories.
When the wind blew so hard, the snow blinded our eyes, we found a way.
Words are what we have. A smile, a hug, a handshake. Unspoken when we cannot find them.
Eventually, Alzheimer’s took my mom’s ability to speak.
Words are what we have. She mumbles. A sound. Followed by a look. Where are the words?
Reaching for my sat phone on the summit, it was time to send the message.
Words are what we have. Breath. My heads spins. Thoughts, emotions of the day. Capture them all. In words.
Comments from around the world made the difference.
Words are what we have. I read what you wrote. I heard what you said. Your words go deep.
Struggling to say, awkward and clumsy.
Words to capture the experience. Impossible. Inadequate.
A blink and a lifetime
A year has passed. Thousands, millions, billions of words. Still, more remain.
The journey continues. Memories live on.
Closed eyes. Listen carefully. The words come alive. They are there. Always have been.
