Pace on Earth

Ain't No Mountain High Enough

My Kiwi buddy at work came in today with his All Blacks jersey on. When asked why he had his colours on he told us that he was sporting his Kiwi Tuxedo because New Zealand lost an icon when Sir Edmund Hillary died today.

Hillary was one of the first two people to summit Mount Everest. He and his Sherpa partner Tenzing Norgay accomplished the feat in May 1953. This was his claim to fame but he lived an extraordinary life beyond. He was an adventurer throughout his life but what's more noteworthy is his work as a philanthropist and his efforts to see that the indigenous peoples of Nepal get the benefits of the tourism that the Himilayas draw. He was also selfless; the only picture of the successful first ascent is of Tenzing because only Hillary knew how to operate the camera and "the top of Everest was no place to start teaching".

Seeing the All Blacks jersey worn in tribute to a fallen icon definitely made me appreciate what he means to New Zealanders (he appears on the 5$ bill) and made me wonder what Canadian would prompt me to wear my Canadian colors if I found myself in another country upon their death. The only one's that came to mind were Gretzky and Gord Downie.

It's Friday and I'm heading out for Happy Hour - I'll have a beer for Sir Ed and a life well lived.

Pace out.

posted by Vitamin S @ 4:38 p.m.