Why do I want to Climb Mt. Everest?

I have been asked on many occasions and it is the one question asked by every school that is following my blog: why do I want to climb Mount Everest? The answer is certainly not as simple as just "because it is there". I will attempt to give you a bit of insight into my thoughts.

As many of you know I wrote a list of things that I wanted to accomplish during my life - bucket list if you will. It went like this:

1. Climb to the top of Mount Everest
2. Run the Boston Marathon
3. Have a career
4. Build a house in the woods without power or running water (!)
5. Hang glide
6. Own a motorcycle

Now these are not just items that I wanted to do once to tick off my list, but rather they have become a large part of my life. I have been running for most of my life, and back in the mid-70's when I wrote this list, Boston was the marathon to run. I have run the Vancouver Marathons twice, and as yet have failed to qualify to run the Boston Marathon, and my old knees won't stand up to training for another marathon.
I have spent the last 23 years on my career, and I have two fabulous jobs as a critical care nurse, one of which I frequently get asked by others when I am going to give it up so that they can have my job! Never, is of course the response.
I'll skip #4 because I live in the real world, the commute to work would be brutal...but trekking in Nepal comes pretty close to this.
I tried hang gliding, but turned to Paragliding instead; they are sister sports. I have been doing this for the past 16 years and really love it. And for the motorcycle, I love riding on the back of Ted's goldwing, and two years ago I took lessons and bought my own bike. I can't wait to get back in June and take her out.
What is the common thread? Most of these require training, effort, discipline and a certain amount of self reliance. The benefit of all of these activities is that I have a lot of good friends that I consider extended families related to each of them.
Now for Everest, well I have spent as much time in the mountains as I can over the past 4-5 years, learning as much as I can from anyone willing to teach me. It has been a great journey so far, but it's not over. Follow along as I make my way.