The Promise

It took a long time to climb the mountain. But we did it. The view from the top was amazing, and made the fatigue my limbs felt from the climb up disappear. Beside me, my father stood, invisible to all but me. He was the only one who knew I was here on the mountaintop. As I stared at the horizon a light mist began to fall from the sky, but I stayed dry. Here I was, above the treetops, above the mist, and I felt so peaceful. The scene before me was so calm and tranquil. A tear escaped my eye as I thought of the day I decided to climb the mountain. I was just nine years old.

“Daddy, one day will you take me up Mount Summer?” I asked, pointing to the mountain, the highest point hidden by clouds.

“Sure. The day you’re old enough to climb Mount Summer I’ll be there by your side,” he said. “I promise.”

I had been so young. He died two years later in a mountain climbing expedition.

This put me off climbing for so long, but the dream of scaling Mount Summer was always in the back of my mind. I knew that I wouldn’t feel I’d accomplished anything until I reached the top.

I was twelve when I started climbing again. When I was on my own I found myself talking to my father. As time went by, I began doing it more and more often, and I began to think he was really there. Mum thought I was still suffering from grief, but I knew this was just my way of coping.

I trained specifically for my climb up Mount Summer for a year. I started my training the week after I turned fourteen as my father had said I would be ready to climb the mountain at fifteen. Just after I began training I set the date for my climb. It was to be the 9^th of September – my father’s birthday.

I got up early, about five o’clock, as I normally did for my training, while everyone was still asleep. I dressed appropriately and had breakfast as quick as I could. I had packed a bag the previous night with provisions and safety gear for climbing last night, and I shouldered it before walking out the house.

I caught a bus as far across town as I could get, and then walked the final k to the base of Mount Summer. I knew I was disobeying the first rule when it came to climbing, but I had to do this alone. I didn’t even want to tell anyone that I was going.

The climb was the hardest I had ever attempted, and at half way up I was beginning to question my readiness. But after I had rested for a while, I felt ready to go again. The time where I passed through the cloud was probably the worst I had experienced. In the climbing team I was in we had been told about what it was like to climb through the cloud, and had even had a quick simulation-like thing. But that didn’t really prepare me for what it was really like. It was like walking through thick wet fog, except I was climbing, and the low visibility wasn’t very good. I panicked once as I slipped and almost fell, but my father caught me. I felt as though I wanted to give up, but I endured. I had to.

A little further ahead of me was my father. He was a lot more experienced than me, so he was faster, but he waited for me so we could step out onto the peak together.

I turned to my father, a wide smile on his face. “We did it,” I said. “We climbed to the top of Mount Summer.”

“We certainly did. I’m very proud of you,” he replied.

“You kept your promise,” I added. “The one you made to me when I was nine.”

“I wouldn’t want to disappoint you, ever. You’re my daughter, and I love you,” he replied.

“I love you too, dad.”

As he hugged me I felt his presence disappear, and he vanished from view. Strangely, I didn’t feel alone. I could still feel him with me, even though I couldn’t see him anymore. As I looked at the beautiful surroundings, I felt a great sense of accomplishment.

I decided, with little hesitation, that I was never coming down from the mountain.

GIRL DIES IN CLIMBING ACCIDENT

On September 9^th local girl Jennifer Adams, 15, attempted to climb Mount Summer, but slipped and fell before she was even half way up. She hadn’t told anyone that she was going, and her mother was distressed when police rang her with the terrible news.

“Jennifer has always been into climbing. I’m devastated that she’s gone, but at least she left us doing something she loved,” her mother commented in between tears. “She’ll definitely be missed.”

Infidel, an autobiography

If you know me, you'll also know that I like to read. That is a slight understatement ... I LOVE to read!

Recently I have read an autobiography that was fascinating in a couple of ways. The book is Infidel, by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. (This is the Wikipedia page) As an autobiography, it is about her life; her childhood growing up as a Muslim girl in Kenya, Israel and Ethiopia, her escape and asylum in Holland, and the beginning and end of her political career. But always, throughout, her amazing strength, courage and questioning that has inspired so many women, but especially the oppressed Muslim women.

I have learned from this book (and the sequel Nomad) about the Muslim faith and practices. Women are given so few rights, and are looked upon as lesser people. As Ayaan was born in the 60's I am not 100% about the facts for now, but I would assume there are still villages and even cities that would not let a woman walk the streets, let alone buy food or anything for their family without being accompanied by a man. Female circumcision is still being practiced, and not just in the developing countries. Even in communities in the West young girls are being mutilated for the sake of their religion and being "pure".

It made me think again about how lucky we are to live in Australia. Seeing what we take for granted everyday from the eyes of someone who has never had the simple freedom of walking down the street without being completely covered, to having the freedom to choose to study whatever they want at university to make a career of their own choosing. We are so blessed. Ayaan made her freedom and new life in Holland count. She studied politics and has become an advocate for the rights of asylum seekers and especially Muslim women.

Unfortunately because of the controversial nature of what she speaks out against, and the very profound moment where she denounced her Muslim faith (an act punishable by death) she travels and lives 24/7 with bodyguards. And yet she continues to speak up for those who cannot.

If you would like to read this book I purchased it from Book Depository (free postage) or when I get it back from someone I lent it too I will be more than happy to lend it to you too.