Oh the places you'll go!

                                                                                          and [Sharon Wilensky]


Congratulations! Today is your day.  You're off to great places! You're off and away!

[Mazel Tov! Is it really? It will be! Wednesday, 8th August 2012. Calling Kenya Airlines flight KQ 765. All Kili girls board flight for Nairobi.]

You have brains in your head, You have feet in your shoes.

[Blame it on the brain - well what other option is there? Seriously, I know a lot of very clever people who won't /do not/will not do what we are doing. So how do you figure that it is the brain?! Oh! I have feet in my shoes alright! R900.00 boots. The most expensive pair of footwear I have ever purchased. My wedding dress didn't even cost that much!]

You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
[There is only one direction - and that is UP]

You're on your own and you know what you know.
[Dr Seuss - on this one you're wrong - we are not on our own. This is a TEAM! The ORT "Kili" Girls team.]

And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go
[Well actually Robyn Smookler decided that for us!]

You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care. About some you will say, 'I don't choose to go there.' With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

[At 5 am there are no cars, so you don't even even need to look  'em over or be careful when crossing a normally busy road. You just cross because you have no choice - you walk/run in the dark with one of the guys egging you on "Come on Shaz!" and you have the chutzpah to say that my head is full of brains! I was taught and now I teach my children not to go to dodgy places and yet, I am navigating a pitch dark passage, three to four times per week, with little more than a headlamp for protection and I am putting my life into the hands of a man called "Lance" whom I do not know and yet feel totally comfortable with, whipping me away to the highest point in some foreign country. A bit hypocritical don't you think?]

And you may not find any you'll want to go down. In that case of course, you'll head straight out of town. It's opener there in the wide open air

[So, we continue...., we hear about the other routes which are perhaps shorter but Hey! why would we do less exhrtive? when we can to the scenic route right? Repeat after me 20 times "I will never complain when driving through the Karoo! I will never complain when driving through the Karoo! I will never complain when driving through the Karoo!".......]

Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you. And then things start to happen, don't worry, don't stew. Just go right along. You'll start happening too.  OH! The places you'll go! You'll be on your way up! You'll be seeing great sights! You'll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.

[Am I right in assuming that people, whose feet fit comfortably in their shoes, are brainy! Because Dr. Seuss sure does make that partnership come to life. What sort of things start to happen that have not already started to happen! Like waking up before the crack of dawn and in fact on a walk the other morning, we were more than half-way through our session when we clearly heard "cock-a-doodle-dooooo" How many people do you know who can boast waking up long before the cock crows? I have been privileged to visit many places on most of the continents, in my life so far and to tell you the truth, I have always dreamt of going to Bali and Antigua. I don't even mind going to Madagascar to try help those animals find their way home or what about somewhere like that ice hotel in Sweden or to where my good friend, Sandra went, the Hotel Atlantis which is under water. For all those places you don't require a space and half rolls of toilet paper stuffed into a plastic container!]

You won't lag behind because you'll have the speed. You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead. Wherever you walk, you'll be best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest. Except when you don't. Because sometimes you won't. I'm sorry to say so but sadly it's true that Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you. You can get all hung up in a prickle-ly perch. And your gang will fly on. You'll be left in a Lurch.'

[I will lag behind! and how do I know? Because on the many training sessions and hikes that I have been on, I have lagged behind and sorry to say but the only lead I take, was given to me when I delivered my first child and it is strictly, the lead role as a mother. A lead that I am proud of and cherish - not like taking the lead to arrive at an open space in the middle of desolation, only to be grossed out by a piece of blue canvas that is only approx. 4,x1.5m x1.5m and who knows what's inside. So please believe me - no running to camp for me - thanks! But I do like my tea not too hot. So whoever  does take the lead, please pour me a cuppa and let it cool so that it will just right when I arrive.]

NEVA

You'll come down from the Lurch with an unpleasant bump. And the chances are then, that you'll be in a slump. And when you're in a Slump, you're not in for much fun. Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked. Some windows are lit, but mostly they're dark. A place  you could sprain both your ankle and chin! Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?

[So I had never owned a proper pair of training shoes until the day before I joined the group and then because I had never done much exercise, my legs at the bottom, first the right and then the left got compartment syndrome which happens when muscles due to lack of use suddenly start developing due to a new found sense of action but have nowhere to go because the lining is like biltong sinew - dried up and thick from lack of use. Boy was it painful, but a few sessions at the physio some of Tshepo's Chinese spray which smells so disgusting and a trip to the podiatrist for new orthotics and problem solved. Then there has been the time when I trained on the steps at about 4 degrees t was -4 degrees - i don't remember because it was too cold. Anyway I felt my body cool down much too quickly and by the afternoon, my throat and ears were hollowing all the way to the Austrian Alps. A quick visit to the doctor and that was it for 8 days solid of training. So spare a thought for the poor body - that has had nothing then suddenly has a taste of something and then gets shoved back into the no-go zone and Oh Boy! the mind games lift you up and take you away to "What if Land" where so much takes place :"But mostly they're dark" Thankfully that has been it and apart from landing on the tushie on almost every hike. I cannot wait everyday to do something which propels me towards "OH THE PLACES YOU'LL GO Mt Kilimanjaro-Tanzania.]

How much can you lose? How much can you win? And IF you go in, should you turn left or right... or right and three quarters? Or maybe not quite? Or go around back and sneak in from from behind? Simple it's not I'm afraid you will find for a mind-maker upper to make up his mind.

["How much can you lose? How much can you win?" This is a similar statement/question to Brad's "What is your Why? which I have not yet been able to answer but hopefully will have a far clearer understanding to when contemplating what I have just been through on the Thursday 16th August -0 Nairobi to Jhb. One thing I have learnt since I began training on the 2nd May - I am a member of a group of girls who have committed their time, energyand souls for a cause that has taken each one to another dimension - physically and spiritually and we cannot wait to achieve our personal and collective goals.]

You can get so confused that you'll start in to race down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace and grind on for miles cross wierdish wild space, headed I fear toward a most useless place. The Waiting Place.... for people just waiting. Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come or a plane to go or the mail to come or the rain to go or the phone to ring or the snow to snow or the waiting around for a Yes or a No or waiting for their hair to grow. Everyone is just waiting. Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for the wind to fly a kite or waiting around for Friday night or waiting perhaps for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil or a Better Break or a string of pearls or a pair of pants or a wig with curls or Another Chance. Everyone is just waiting.

[The only thing I wait for every day is the bbms that start around 4pm. Suddenly everyone's mind gets back into Kili mode after a hectic day with kids and work, because we all need to know what the exercise regime is for the nest day. Do you think Dr Seuss was Jewish cos he was also waiting around for Friday night which for me cannot come quick enough each week so that I can have a break. I used to think there was not enough time in the week to prepare for Shabbos - now I find extra time to make it happen and can't wait for it to start getting dark. I also laugh every motzei Shabbos when I put my phone on and someone has sent a very relevant message during the day and due to some of us "resting" because that is the only day that there is a day off from training no one has responded and then the beeping starts.....]

NO! That's not for you! Somehow you'll escape all that waiting and staying.  You'll find the bright places where boom bands are playing. With banner flip-flapping once more you'll ride high! Ready for anything under the sky. Ready because you're that kind of a guy!

[No! You are so right. That's not for me - the old me who was always involved in community projects and was a soccer mom and on the PTA. BUT I have never been a member of a gym or done anything remotely exercisey. I once walked very far to Central Park to meet my husband at the end of the New York Marathon but that was only because there were no tubes, buses or taxis and I had no other choice. Well I suppose I did have another choice!!!! So when I received a random sms from Robyn about a climb or something and a campaign of sorts, I was not really looking to be in the front of the queue, shouting "Pick me - Pick me" like I have done most of my life when challenges have presented themselves but something / someone made me go to that first meeting which was quite well attended and of all the interested girls that night Robyn, Kate, Daphna, Shira and myself (Oh! And Chev's husband) were the only fish biting and boy did we swallow the bait - hook-line-and-sinker!!

Oh the places you'll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all. Fame!You'll be as famous as famous can be, with the whole wide world watching you win on TV. Except when they don't because sometimes they won't. I'm afraid that sometimes you'll play lonely games too. Games you can't win 'cause you'll play against you.

[Not one of us is in it for the fame but it has been so amazing to see how it has evolved through the media and just this week, Kiki, Tali and myself were "picked-up" in the Old Eds Car Park by two men who asked us at 5.55 am if we were part of the Kili team. Everyone is talking about it. The "goldies" that I work with at Sandringham Gardens get so excited everytime there is an article in paper and all the features are plastered on the notice board in the centre where we meet - they are so proud of me and I have about 19 pairs of bed socks from various women who think I need to keep my feet warm, which is true, but I don't have the heart to tell them to stop knitting them for me because I won't be able to take any as they are all made of wool.]

All alone! Whether you like or not, Alone will be something you'll be quite a lot. And when you're alone, there's a very good chance you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants. There are some, down the road between hither and yon, that can scare you so much you won't want to do on. But on you will go though the weather be foul. On you will go, though your enemies prowl, On you will go through the Hakken-Kraks howl. Onward up many a frightening creek, though your arms may get sore and  your sneakers may leak. On and on you will hike and I know you'll hike far  and face up to your problems whatever they are.  

[I am looking forward to the time alone - just me and my Maker. To be able to express how grateful I am for everything that I have in my life. I have been blessed with the most amazing upbringing thanks to my dearest parents to whom I owe everything. My sisters who I have shared my whole life with and who I trust and obey (except my youngest sister who has on many occasions said to me, 'Sharie are you sure you really want to/need to do this?)

I am looking forward to the time alone to say "thank you" for the most wonderful, caring and understanding husband that I have. Fred has supported me through may life changing experiences and although he is a man of very very  few words, he is an amazing father and the most unique individual that I have ever met and have had the privilege to share my life with so far.
Then I am looking forward to the time alone.... but truthfully how does a mother even begin to Thank G-d for her children? There is absolutely no way that I would ever be able to express what a fortunate mother I have been blessed to be. My three children are my whole life. They are individuals with such beautiful qualities that I sometimes wonder how it is possible for young people to think of and say and do some of the things that they do. And then I am looking forward to the time alone to be with myself. I am excited to see the landscape and how it will change as we climb higher and higher, knowing that Hashem is holding and always has been holding my hand.

How fortunate I am - I will be never be able to explain

You'll get mixed up of course as you already know. You'll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step, step with care and great tact and remember that Life's a Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft and never mix up your right foot with your left. And will you success? es! You will, indeed! (98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed)

[For all the tests that I have been able to pass thus far, not many have come with a rule book but I know that with this climb behind me,  will receive a new set of strengths that will guide me and show me the path to choose, hopefully long before the road even branches. The "steps" (which I think I am really going to miss!!!!) that I will take in the future, I know I have been guided to take and although B"H there have not been many times in my life that have been hectic balancing acts, I know and appreciate how lucky I am for the support, unconditional care and compassion from Almighty Gd. That is a 100% guarantee.]

So, be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea you're off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so... get on your  way!

[WE WILL MOVE MOUNTAINS! We are a team of Amazing girls who are possessed with this climbing thing, passionate about a clump of stone, sand and ice and powerless when the alarm goes off at 4:04am BUT so strong and committed -

 friendly, caring and compassionate as was evident on Mandela day in Alex - funny and clever - big or small - young and old but mostly willing and able to empower, motivate ad inspire so many other women who we will mostly likely never meet or even begin to comprehend how "our climb" will alter and shape their lives and that of their families so that they too can obtain the skills to conquer their personal mountains, every day.]

[So... be your name ROBYN, DAPHNA, ANDY or KATE If you are KIKI the doctor or your name starts with A (AMANDA) Do you land from London (TAHLIA and TERRI) or cruise from PTA (RAHIMA, ESTELLE and SIOBHAN) You're off to Great Places! Today is your day! Start at 5:00am with TALI, Tshepo and the boys, in the arvie is VERED to clear the work haze. NOELLA, CHEV and SHIRA kick it up i the gym. While a sister is a sister! And there's two of them! (JENA and GALIT) Your mountain is waiting, so... get on your way! Onwards and Upwards THE ORT "KILI"GIRLS WAY!]

by Sharon Wilensky