October 15, 2007

Today it set in, why we are here. We are staying at Namche Bazar to acclimatize and set out for a simple day hike up to Syangboche for a full view of the Everest range. The trek was steep and immersed in cloud. All we could see were the immediate trekkers around us and hear the bells of the Yak, or was that Eran? We reached our destination and slowly took over the picnic tables with our green and orange Marmot crew. As we waited for the clouds to part, the boys performed an amazing concert to the surprise of cheering trekkers from France, Germany, and Japan.

Followed by Nick performing Imaginary Friend. Everyone was preparing to pack their kit to hit the road when Nick began to speak quietly in the corner to Damien on camera. He was explaining that he wrote this song in honor of his mother whom he had lost to breast cancer on March 3, 2000, sufficed to say she was honored today.

A calm trickled down across our group as we caught on to his words. As he spoke we all began to take his words and relate it to our own experiences, Christine having just finished her chemo for breast cancer only 6 months ago, Mike having had one of his latest treatment just two weeks before we left for Nepal, Alan returning to Everest for the first time since he has been in remission…I could go on forever as every one of us has a reason for being here, we have all been touched by cancer. As we listened, we began looking at each other and it all truly sunk in why we are here. The tears ran down our cheeks and we began to sit closer until we were embraced. I have never felt such a calling and true understanding of where I belong. Unspoken, we all shared a moment in time, a perfect placement, and knew this is where we belong.

After gaining a Japanese fan base who plans on meeting us up top, we geared up and headed back down the mountain for lunch and baby wipe showers. We made our way into town for an impromptu concert at the local “club” (pool table, libations, and jammin’ 80’s music). Shannon and Stash worked hard to promote the concert around town all morning, the flyers made by the bar manager stated “Be there, Be Square”, and the place was packed. You know rockstars, fashionably late, so of course the gig was delayed 2 hours. I think we had to arrange a stretch Yak to get them there. The people waited. We all took our seats and the anticipation was electric. The look on the locals faces cannot be described. Old and young waited for the famous rock stars, of which they had probably never heard. Nevertheless, how exciting. The very first concert ever in Namche Bazar by foreigners!!

The concert was amazing! Glenn was the comical MC, cracking everyone up. Mike lead the gang in a guitar masterpiece. Slim was rockin’ the snare drum in his signature tank top. Individual songs were performed by Mike, Nick, Glenn, and Cy. The role of the roadies was performed by the porters and I think that the musicians want to take them on tour next year. Each song was a gift to this town and to our hearts.

Again tears, especially from Shannon. I think it finally hit her just what she has accomplished as our director. We learned that Everest Rocks is spreading exponentially. We are on the NPR, BBC, Yahoo front page, and many more. Forget the Rock Stars, I think we are all coming home celebrities.

After a bottle of “Grapevine” ( I apologize to the Denver American Wine Society for my compromise of standard, but any Red wine at 12,000 Ft is a blessing), we headed up the hill to our tea house and are now sharing Nepalese spaghetti and sharing our thoughts from the day.

I cannot express with any justice the experience we are sharing. Emotion overwhelms me as I look down our table. We find someone new to learn about during different stretches of the trail. We look at the peaks around us and understand just how small we are and feel a oneness. We are all connected, passionate and driven. We are Love Hope Strength.

Love you Vicki, Shawn, Mom, Dad, Christine, Jason & Heidi, Zsa Zsa and Eva (my little pups)

Meghan Buchanan
Love Hope Strength
October 15, 2007
Namche Bazar, Nepal
11,345 ft, 3,457 m

Quotes of the day:

Garrie: on trek this morning looks over at mountaineers high atop the cliffs ahead, “that’s not a precipice that’s a piece of piss.”

Mike walks along the balcony and asks Oli if he’s going to go and play pool…Oli replies “no I’m going to see what Tom’s up to”. Mike walks into his room and after about two minutes emerges chuckling to himself!
Oli: “whats up?”
Mike: ”its just taken me two minutes to realize that I’m in the wrong room, everybody’s got the same gear!!! I thought somebody had been through all my gear when I saw my Leki poles and Crocs in a mess on my bed!!!”

Loud screams and moaning emerge from Slim and Garrie’s room in the wee hours. “Ooohhhhh, Aaahhhhhh, Ooowwwwww”. Several thoughts run through our minds, we are happy to report that they, individually, decided to take cold showers with water fresh from the Everest streams…so they claim.

Meghan (writing the journal): “We are staying at Namche Bizarre” Bizarre??! Hey, she’s dyslexic, but right on!

Nick heads off to bed which is 4 stories up, Glenn giggles as he leaves “I have the key, he will figure it out when he gets up there and come back down for it, he needs the exercise”.

Meghan: “I want to adopt that cute little Nepalese kid”. Shannon: “Meghan, he’s a British tourist!”.

Damien: “I wish that every day could be like this. Where you wake up on the door steps of the Gods and you deal with adversity, then you overcome. You have a sense of conquering something and everywhere you look you can hear great music, meet new friends, take on new adventures, film breathtaking views and get a little bit of exercise in between. This is a place where people live in peace, are happy with what they have and the world would be a better place if we could all just be happy to be alive and to be grateful for the unimportant things we are fortunate to have.”