“What the hell?” is a question shouted out loud. Looking in my cup, there is one drop of coffee, after waiting on pins and needles for ten minutes. Grabbing the phone with the coffee machine app, it is quickly ascertained that my password has expired. Choosing a new password takes another ten minutes since various symbol and letter combinations are unacceptable.
Finally, the suggested strong-generated password is selected. It is now safely stored, god knows where in the cloud on a password chain that will never be found again. After a sip of the brain rescue fluid, the clock is secured.
The clock is set for June 8, 1924. The location is the Himalayan mountains in Tibet, and the time is one hour. The plunger is pulled, and we are transported immediately to the base of Mt. Everest.
English geologist Noel Odell catches sight of George Mallory and Andrew “Sandy” Irvine, two fellow members of a British expedition to climb Mount Everest, far in the distance, each man a “tiny black spot” silhouetted against the snow. By Odell’s reckoning, they are within about 800 vertical feet of the summit. It is the last time either Mallory or Irvine will be seen alive.
We do not know if Mallory ever reached the summit. His body was found in 1999, face down at 27,000 feet. He had a small camera that could have given information on whether or not the summit was reached. The camera and Andrew Irving’s body are missing. While contemplating the difficulty of climbing Mt. Everest, the alarm brings us back to the safety of the couch. There is a text from Linda Hill. It reads. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “start with a question.” Begin your post with the first question that comes to mind when you sit down to write your post. Bonus points if you end your post with a question, too. Have fun!
To see what other bloggers do with the prompt, visit Linda’s blog. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2024/06/07/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-june-8-2024/
Start with a Question by John W. Howell © 2024
“When was the mountain finally conquered?”
“On May 29, 1953, by New Zealand climber Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa guide from Nepal.”
“Wow, that was a long time since 1924.”
“Yes, it was. When you figure the cold and lack of oxygen near the summit, it is no wonder so many have died in an attempt.”
“I wonder how many?”
“Since records have been kept beginning in 1922, 322 people have died on the mountain.”
“Goodness. I think I will pass on that bucket list item.”
“You had Everest on your bucket list?”
“Well, no, but it’s not going to be either.”
“I see. Do you think you could climb the Voo Doo Ranger hill?”
“Already ordered the Uber.”
“Don’t tell me.”
“Yup, that’s it over there.”
“A fully restored 1924 Model T Ford Tudor Sedan.”
“Yup, that’s it.”
“I am speechless. It is the same year we just visited.”
“I do have a question, though.”
“Yeah, shoot.”
“You opened this post with a story about your coffee machine password.”
“Yes. What’s the question?”
“What use is a password? Who the hell is going to steal coffee from a machine that sits in your kitchen?
Fiction Favorites 
Everest isn’t on my bucket list, either, John. I’ll stick to conquering the great heights at the top of staircases. I like the password on the coffee machine. If a burglar breaks in, attempting to get a cup might delay him long enough for the guard-duo to subdue him.
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Yeah, that’s what the factory must have thought. Thanks, Dan
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I actually expected the death count of Everest to be higher like around a thousand. Guess people weren’t that crazy to try until someone proved it was safe.
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I think doing it at all is nuts but that’s just me.
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Same here.
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😁
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Cool car!
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It is. Thank you, Rabirius.
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All good questions, but an outstanding Uber!
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Thank you, GP. 😊
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Maybe one day you can set the clock for the summit itself. Avoid all that walking and sweating. Of course, your beer might be more of a snow cone up there.
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Yes it does get chill up there. Thanks, Craig.
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Life is full of questions, not all with logical answers. That Model T would be an interesting ride.
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I would love a ride in that car. Thanks, Tim (I liked your philosophical conclusion)
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“…climb the Voo Doo Ranger hill” cracked me up! And good question on the password. Enjoy the Uber ride!
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Thank you, Jennie. It should be a good one.
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Yes!
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A coffee connoisseur robber would go out of his mind thinking up the password to your machine…**good2the lastdrop? MrsOlsen? MaxwellHouse?…just gimme the damn coffee!!**
“What the hell?’ starts so many of my conversations. 🤣
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it is a great line for sure. Great password too.
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Everest is not something I’d put on my bucket list – it’s become something of a tourist trap with lots of garbage strewn along the path to the summit. Dang.
As for your Uber: YES! I love old cars!
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There is garbage and bodies too. Must not be pleasant. Yay for old cars.
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Great story, John. I’m not a car enthusiast, but I’m entranced by the Model T. What a beautiful car! As for Mount Everest, I’m amazed by those who attempt the journey. One of my sons is an outdoor enthusiast and has climbed several mountains — but Mt. Everest is not on his list of ‘to-dos’. As for me, I’m elated to hike flat ground. 🌞
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I’m with you on the flat ground. I don’t think mountain climbing is something I want to do.
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I contemplate whether I really need to go upstairs let alone Everest John. I saw the lines of tourists waiting to go up the other day and not a bathroom in sight! And I don’t need a coffee machine that needs a password either lol.. hugsx
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The lack of restrooms would be the end of my excursion for sure. I hear you on the pass word. Thanks for the visit, Sally.
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“What use is a password? Who the hell is going to steal coffee from a machine that sits in your kitchen?
I was just about to ask you that….
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This is fiction. I used the password thing to work off frustration with resetting passwords.
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I’ll never understand the appeal of risking one’s life to “conquer” a mountain. But that’s me.
And I’m with your partner in crime… what up with the password?
See ya later, alligator 🙂
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Who knows what is up with the password. It like having to be identified to make an on-line deposit at a bank.
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So funny, though.
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So true.
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I can say with great certainty when I arose this morning I did not expect to hear the phrase “coffee machine password,” John. I enjoyed this climb!
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Ha ha ha. Glad you liked it, Bruce. 😊
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Thank goodness I don’t need a password to make my coffee in the morning! Nice Uber!
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I agree, Jo. Who needs it. Thanks.
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Who needs a coffee machine password?
I gotta say I’m with your VooDoo pal on this one.
Why, that’s like needing a password to get to climb Everest, or buy a VooDoo Ranger.
Two guys walk up to the bartender and order 2 VooDoo Rangers.
The bartender says, You’ll need a password.
So it goes:
Who do?
You do!
Me too?
You two do.
For VooDoo?
You do!
Him too?
Him do.
I’ll sue!
Sue who?
VooDoo!
I’ll have two.
Two VooDoo? You’ll need a password.
Kinda like “Who’s on first” It starts all over ..maybe not exactly the same.
I need a Password, for a VooDoo?
You do!
Me too?
Etc.
🍺🍻 🍺🍻 🍺🍻 🍺🍻
(Convenient. the beer has its own x!)
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Very clever. 🤣 thanks Resa. 😁X
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Welcome with love!
💋
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🤗
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Great job with the challenge! Thanks for providing the background on Everest. I guess I hadn’t put two and two together when it comes to the gap between the two attempts. Guess math was never my strong suit…now was it?
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I think the breathing technology had to catch up is the reason. Thanks, Monika.
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Hi John, this is such an interesting post. I didn’t know this back story about the climbing of Everest. I have climbed both the front and the back of Table Mountain in Cape Town. That’s enough for me 😃
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Everest is one of a kind for sure, Robbie. Thanks for sharing your Table Mountain story. 😁
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🦋🩵
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😊
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“Honk, honk, rattle, rattle, crash, beep, beep; it’s a Ford, a Ford, a Ford.” (That song plays in my head every time I see a picture of a Model-T.)
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Fix or repair daily is how we think of Fords
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Yup, that one, too!
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😀
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I found myself nodding my head at that last question. 🙂 What a great excursion. I have no desire to climb Mt. Everest. I’ll leave that to the more adventurous. Love the Uber ride!
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The ride is great. The mountain climb not so much.
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Hi John I cannot understand why anyone would want to conquer Everest… But that’s life! I enjoyed reading the history (tragic history) not thought about since I left school.
Loved the uber too but I should think it was an uncomfortable ride 💜
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A little bumpy but at 10 KMH not too bad. Thanks Willow 🤗 I agree on Everest. Why do that?
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why indeed 💜💜
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Good question. 🤗
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I tried to hike to 13,000 ft one time (Wheeler Peak in Great Basin National Park), but didn’t make it because I got mountain sickness during the hike even though we had camped at 10k. Greg was going to finish the hike without me until we met a hiker running down the trail saying there was thunder and lightening on the summit. That was the end of that … lol. I’d love to have a turn in a 1924 Model T 😉
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Above 10K you need O2. It’s no wonder you got sick.
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I was surprised Greg didn’t get sick, but he was so determined. The only thing that stopped him was the threat of lightening 😉
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Good thing too.
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