When I graduated from college my department's guest speaker, Jon Carroll, spoke of Shackleton's ill-fated journey to reach Antarctica. After telling us how the ship got stuck in ice, how the men were stranded, how Shackleton and a small group set off to find help and how the rescue crew found themselves close to safety but on the wrong side of a mountain that they somehow managed to climb and how at the top, not knowing what was below and unable to see in the darkness, Shackleton had the men link themselves together and they sled down to safety, together and as a group. The speech went on to talk about how opinions can hold you back, failure can make you stronger and how if you find yourself on top of a metaphorical ridge, unable to rescue yourself you should "link arms with your friends and launch yourself into the darkness, knowing that you know nothing and having the courage of your ignorance. Because that's when the fun really begins." Ever since this speech I have had a minor fascination with Shackleton and the Antarctic exploration of the early 1900's.
So it follows that I had been wanting to see the Scott exhibit for some time, and since we'll be out of town the last days of its run, I used my birthday as an excuse to go. Overall it was interesting. Of course we went on a really, really hot day so we were able to discover that the Natural History Museum is NOT air conditioned for the most part, although the exhibit was. It would be kind of funny if an exhibit about Antarctica was stifling hot inside. Most of the exhibit is artifacts and journals from the expedition. They have a mock up of the hut where the men lived, the actual tools and gear they used, their letters, clothing, and numerous pictures taken by the expedition photographer. It was worthwhile to see it, and to understand what the men went through and had to deal with in order for Scott to reach the South Pole. And to understand what expeditions of that time period were like, for both the explorers and the people back home caught up in the glory and fame of exploration. I came out of the exhibit knowing that I am not cut out for cold weather exploration, therefore lucky for me that the South Pole has been conquered and I don't need to include that on my life list.
The rest of my birthday day included pancakes (made by Dave!), taking Riley out (every day is Riley's birthday apparently) and then dinner at the Ledbury which was fantastic. I had a very nice, but hot, day, and I was glad I got to spend it with Dave and Riley. Awwww.
PS - The Scott exhibit closes September 2nd.
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