so many months have gone into this...and finally he's ready. After much preparation, workout, and eating rice poo, Charles has decided he's ready to tackle THE STAIRS. "Mom - I love you. You've been there for me all these months. You're the best. But I have to do this. I have to climb. It, well, it just feels right. I was born to climb," he says in this picture.
(sing "Chariots of Fire" in your head). It was hard to watch him go, off into the fog and cold of the mountain side. Dad stands by for back-up just in case there's a malfunction in equipment, but Charles seems in control. He's been dreaming of this for months, plotting the course, waging the odds. But now is the moment, the moment where time stands still and Charles ascends with the determination of a fighter. And there he goes - the first step, accomplished.
After scaling the heights of step one, Charles takes a moment for a breather. Although his position looks good - stable, confident, determined - Charles' climbing crew (i.e., mommy and daddy) decided he had struggled enough for one day and quickly escorted him back to ground zero. It was a good day of climbing for Charles. HOWEVER, we are sad to report that Charles decided to climb again, but this time without his crew. Mommy realized Charles was very quiet and, like a good crewman, rushed to the site of the climb, only to witness Charles in the last stages of his tumble down the stairs. Thankfully, he had managed to ascend only two steps, and it seems he fell gracefully. After assessing the damage, his crew found only a rug burn on his forehead; otherwise he is in good condition. The mountain has now been closed until further notice...
