August 10, 2009
20 years?
20 years ago today, I was on a canoe trip with a couple of good friends down the St. Croix river in Wisconsin. It was the first 'bigger' trip I actually organized on my own. I think it was 6 or 7 days. Summer was nearing its end and I was about to head off to my first year of college. I remember looking up a the stars one night and wondering how my life would play out.
My good friend, Kev, and I take out the old pictures every now and again. We look so young. I actually still have a lot of memories from that trip, but there are definitely gaps as well. Most days, it seems just like yesterday.
My high school reunion was this past weekend. I missed it. Surprising to me that I actually wanted to go. High school was definitely not the highlight of my life, but it wasn't that bad either. My parents still live in the my same hometown so I'm back every once in a while and always seem to run into old friends. Its fun to reminisce.
Despite not being home for my reunion, I continue to meet old friends in odd places. Last year in Denver, I was having a Save the Poles fundraiser, the same place where my good high school friend Dan Langerman was having lunch. He lives in Colorado and was competing in a Boulder area triathlon so we met up on Saturday to talk. At a grocery store few weeks ago, I ran into another old friend who I had gone on a two week canoe trip with when I was 20. He lives in boulder right down the street. Small world of course.
Tommy Mangold (pictured) still lives in Wisconsin. I hadn't seen or heard from him since high school graduation day in 1989. Then, out of the blue, he sent an email to say hi. He had seen an article about my South Pole expedition and wanted to check in. He's married with a family but still manages some adventures of his own. Climbing Rainier, for example. He planned some other climbs this summer in Colorado as well. Little did I know he's bucking for an Everest Sherpa. Keep climbing, Tom.
I like running into old friends and acquaintances. Funny to think about the past. While I often laugh at who we were, I am always amazed at who we have become.
My good friend, Kev, and I take out the old pictures every now and again. We look so young. I actually still have a lot of memories from that trip, but there are definitely gaps as well. Most days, it seems just like yesterday.
My high school reunion was this past weekend. I missed it. Surprising to me that I actually wanted to go. High school was definitely not the highlight of my life, but it wasn't that bad either. My parents still live in the my same hometown so I'm back every once in a while and always seem to run into old friends. Its fun to reminisce.
Despite not being home for my reunion, I continue to meet old friends in odd places. Last year in Denver, I was having a Save the Poles fundraiser, the same place where my good high school friend Dan Langerman was having lunch. He lives in Colorado and was competing in a Boulder area triathlon so we met up on Saturday to talk. At a grocery store few weeks ago, I ran into another old friend who I had gone on a two week canoe trip with when I was 20. He lives in boulder right down the street. Small world of course.
Tommy Mangold (pictured) still lives in Wisconsin. I hadn't seen or heard from him since high school graduation day in 1989. Then, out of the blue, he sent an email to say hi. He had seen an article about my South Pole expedition and wanted to check in. He's married with a family but still manages some adventures of his own. Climbing Rainier, for example. He planned some other climbs this summer in Colorado as well. Little did I know he's bucking for an Everest Sherpa. Keep climbing, Tom.
I like running into old friends and acquaintances. Funny to think about the past. While I often laugh at who we were, I am always amazed at who we have become.