AGAIN!!!

Believe it or not, we're going... Again. We leave June 30 and the countdown is on!

Yes, yes, we can hear the cries of "didn't you just come back?" and "are you crazy?" but what can we say? The chance of a lifetime has presented itself (yet again) and there is no way we could possibly pass it up! Can any of you really claim that, if someone presented you with the opportunity to do something you've always dreamed of, you wouldn't do the same? Well??

Now admittedly, for many of you, climbing for 21 days in the high Himalayas may not exactly be your idea of a dream come true but, as they say, to each his own. (By the way... who exactly are "they" anyway?)

So... Some details on how we got to this point...
We found out when we were hiking with Kuku and his class from Hong Kong in October last year that he was putting on one last great expedition to the Himalayas. (If you don't remember... scroll down... waaaaay down)
Anyway, Kuku is turning 50 this year and I guess this trip is like some last great hurrah.
That reminds me... um I'm turning 40 this year OMG!!! How did that happen? (oh ya... this is Heather talking :)

Ok, back to the tale... Kuku through some tradition/law/ruling/etc has the privilege bestowed on him by some governing body that, while on a trek, he is like a ship captain and can marry people. So there you have it. Not only did we have the opportunity to trek in the mountains but we also had the opportunity to be married by a friend... while trekking in the mountains!

Done deal... we're in.

Oh yes, did we forget to tell you that we were having a commitment ceremony at 14,000 feet in a meadow with a large peak as the backdrop? Hmm, how did we leave that bit out?

As you know, Brad and I are not much for the mainstream, socially accepted norms on how to do things and that includes "weddings". The current norms on weddings actually go against most of our feelings on true enduring relationships.
Now, we are not complete cynics. We do believe deeply in love and commitment but we also realize that, as we grow on our paths, things never stay the same. You know that guy, the Dalai Lama... ya, that guy. His main message - everything is impermanence. One way to think of it... we are committing to love each other and support each others spiritual growth for as long as love lasts. It could actually be "til death do us part" but no one can say what will happen tomorrow so we commit to the now, which is the only time that really exists.

With all that in mind, we didn't want the traditional type of wedding... we wanted it to be an expression of our lives, loves and beliefs... thus, the mountains, the meadows, the flowers...

It's going to take place at approximately and exactly noon on July 12 (India time... so you'll have to make the conversion for wherever you happen to be and send us some happy vibes).

This is a poem by Rumi that Brad and I especially like and expresses some of our feelings...

On Being Woven

by RUMI

The way is full of genuine sacrifice.

The thickets blocking the path are anything
that keeps you from that, any fear
that you may be broken to bits like a glass bottle.
This road demands courage and stamina,
yet it is full of footprints! Who are
these companions? They are rungs
in your ladder. Use them!
With company you quicken your ascent.

You may be happy enough going along,
but with others you'll get farther, and faster.

Someone who goes cheerfully by himself
to the customs house to pay his traveler's tax
will go even more lightheartedly
when friends are with him.

Every prophet sought out companions.
A wall standing alone is useless,
but put three or four walls together,
and they'll support a roof and keep the grain safe and dry.

When ink joins with a pen, then the blank paper
Can say something. Rushes and reeds must be woven
to be useful as a mat. If they weren't interlaced,
the wind would blow them away.

Like that, God paired up
creatures and gave them friendship.

Isn't that beautiful??

And... for those who like visuals... this is a map and general itinerary of where we'll be on what day. I think you can right click and copy it to your computer to make it big enough to actually read. Picassa seems to work really well for this (for those of you who don't have it... it's free and works really well for organizing photos on your computer) BTW...Juley is not a misspelling of July (which is what I originally thought) but is actually the traditional greeting in the area we will be traveling.

While we're away, unfortunately, there will be no posting since we'll be hiking and camping for the majority of the time. On the off hand chance we stumble across an internet cafe in the middle of no where, there may be an email or two but you'll have to wait until some time after July 27 for the adventure to be posted.