But I'm Not the Only One

As I flew back to the States I thought about how I've always been a dreamer. Since I was a kid I've had these sort of unrealistic dreams. I wanted to go to the moon, be an Olympic athlete, go to Antarctica. I was almost too mature as a kid. As I grew up I feel like I had to get less mature and try to be optimistic but also realistic. So it was especially nice that I was able to make one of my dreams a reality.

I am excited to report I made it back to the Pac NW! After a brief stopover in Australia I flew back into Seattle and saw the city from the air with some giddiness. My brother, SIL and nephew were there waiting for me. I didn't let go of my nephew for a while. He was pretty cuddly too which was nice. I wasn't sure he would remember me.


My parents came out from Montana and my sister from Denver to welcome me home. My sister, Amie, and I went up to the Olympics in Whistler and watched Nordic events. We had the pleasant surprise of some of my friends deciding to drive up too. We had a lot of spirit especially when the USA got gold and silver via Billy Demong and Johnny Spillane in Nordic Combined.


We got back from Canada and enjoyed the next weekend taking my nephew, Dylan, to the park and the Seattle weather cooperated. Dylan is a little confused by the twin aunts. Not that we look that much alike anymore but we sound the same. So since Amie is easier to pronounce he calls us "Amies." I'll be a plural Amie for a while but I'm working with him on "Mandie".


My dad sure likes being a grandpa and my mom sure likes being an Amma (Icelandic for grandma). Unfortunately Amma sounds alot like Elmo when said by a 17-month old so there was some confusion but it all worked out.

It was so fun to catch up with Matt and Jane, my brother and SIL. Remodeled bathroom and all. Here they are in Carkeek Park, aka child heavan.

Here are a few shots from Whistler. One of the few times where you can roll out of bed and have a beer and brat without feeling too bad about yourself.

Some of my friends who joined us from Seattle for the men's 4 x 10k relay. Tim loves his country. I bet you can guess who he is.

It's interesting that after all the adventure of Antarctica I haven't talked about it that much since I got back. But I think the most common statement I get from people is "wow, you get to travel so much." As in travel = vacation. I know they are just being nice but I do feel like I should describe how this was different than travel. It was work, work, work and more work. I worked 6 days per week 12 hrs per day. As the only physical therapist on the continent I saw patients from 7 am to 7 pm, grabbed dinner and sometimes went back at 9 pm to give a back safety talk to some crew going out into the field. The US ski team work I do is much the same. Adventure combined with lots of work. But these opportunities are a nice way to combine my love of travel with my love of PT. So it's travel, adventure and work all tossed into one package. But travel in the sense that I took a plane to get there. Compared to some of my friends I feel like I've "traveled" very little.

Anyway, the best way to describe Antarctica is that it is filled with dreamers. People looking for adventure. It's a place where you can't ignore each other. When you pass someone between buildings you will likely see them about 10 more times that day so you better smile and be nice. The wind bites and glacier glasses aren't just nice to have they are necessary. You get to live on the great southern continent without the risks the explorers had to take. It's a life without conveniences where you have to rely on each other a little more. It took me a while on my way back through Christ Church, Sydney and Seattle to get used to people walking by and ignoring me again.

I think my experience in Antarctica helped me understand why I like being in the mountains so much. You are with a small, focused, like-minded group of people having a little adventure and seeing nature in a way you couldn't if you hadn't just made a significant effort to get there. Or why hiking or skiing alone is sometimes very rewarding and rejuvenating. Nobody to pay attention to -- just nature and your thoughts. The woods give back all of themselves to you and you feel just a little special.

Thanks again to all of you for following along. I will sign off for good now. But I look forward to seeing you all and hearing your stories. It has been nice to step away from my life a little to help me realize how much I really like it. And how the people in your life really make all the difference.