3/25/11, 7:40 am.  I am now in the Bangkok airport, waiting for my continuing flight to Kathmandu.  I have passed the first test of my great adventure to climb Mount Everest.  I said goodbye last night to my loving wife Kristin and my daughter Kailtyn, aka "Sunshine."  I shed a few tears as I headed to LAX by shuttle.  Earlier in the week I saw both my sons, Matt and CHris, off to Harvard for their continuing college education.  Leaving loved ones behind is often the hardest part of a climb - but thinking about returning to their warm embrace is often the inspiration that gets you through the big adventures of life.