Becoming a Hero

There is a stone stele bearing an ancient inscription standing at the base of the Great Wall of China. It says, “You’re not a hero until you have climbed the Great Wall of China.” Ancient Chinese soldiers would recite this to one another when they were stationed at this remote string of fortresses separating China from the Hsung-nu barbarians to the north. Many battles were waged along these ramparts since 221 BC. Occasionally the wall was breached, as when Kublai Khan broke through to establish his Mongol Empire in China.

Today we were not fighting, but rather enjoying a wonderful day with beautifully clear skies and the sun in exactly the right place for photographs. We spent over two hours of free time climbing up, climbing down, practicing Chinese, talking to children and soaking up some of the most glorious mountain views in the world. Glenda gets extra points for doing this with a nagging case of plantar fasciitis. But the morning was made for exceptional memories.Read more