GREAT BOOK. Am reading "Seven Summits" by Dick Bass and Frank Wells with Rick Ridgeway, the story of an entrepreneur developer(conservative)and a movie studio president(liberal) both in their early 50's, who hooked up and attempted to hike the highest point on each of the seven continents. It's a terrific read if you are a hiker or a wannabe, or even not that, as their story is very inspirational.

To provide a visual to go with today's blog, here is the beginning of the little hike I took part-way up the highest mountain, Toubkal, in Morocco. (I fall into that wannabe category)

When they are on Everest, Frank's continuing lack of skills and ability and his frustrations of achieving his goal to reach the summit are reflected in this passage that so mirrors what many of the Peace Corps Volunteers feel at times about their service. Here it is:

"It was a funny thing he couldn't seem to overcome, this sort of dual pull between giving it his all versus giving in, and he realized he would actually be relieved to have an excuse to go down, (return to the base camp rather than try to summit) as long as it was for some reason beyond his control, as long as he could tell himself later he really had stuck with it as long as possible."

He doesn't give in, but gives it his all, and many times experiences the thrill of achievement. So often I have had the same thoughts; that if I had to go home for some reason other than I simply wanted to quit, that would be fine with me. Most of the time, however, I am content, and believe I am where I need to be at this time in my life, and that there is a need and a reason for me to continue attempting to reach the "summit," which is, in my case, the close of my service.