I personally wouldn’t be, if I could possibly help it, involved in a serious pursuit in which there weren’t a few people who could laugh a bit about it. Because I can remember many occasions — maybe we’ve been stuck in a tent or we’re up on the side of a mountain, this heavy snow, avalanches all around us, and we can’t get up and we can’t get down, but we just sat in the tent and reminisced about occasions and days gone by and laughed about old jokes and all the rest of it. Then you really have a very good time, even though you’re sort of poised there between disaster both up and down. People who can make you laugh under those circumstances are very valuable indeed in an expedition.

If I haven’t seen them in years and yet can pick up conversation like it was yesterday.

The asset I most value, aside from health, is interesting, diverse, and long-standing friends.

Humor, perspective, and selective honesty.

I have a lot to be grateful for, but right now, being married. Having time to be with my husband and his children. I feel very grateful.

A peaceful, joyous time in the world…or in my head.

People’s need to feel superior to others. All it does is cause judgment and hate.

I most admire Steve Sondheim, who is not alive anymore. But his words and music keep him alive.