Out of the dark...

6 month ago, this day, this hour the world was still in order - or so we thought. A small operation, a somewhat longer healing and rehab process, and we would climb again the mountains of the world. No one knew about the time bomb ticking on Mike's body - it was to explode only hours away, 6 month ago. And everything changed.

I am hanging onto memories, writing, crying, smiling....

Mike playing with his new camera, Bayview Escarpment, Jan 2010

After tobbaganing in Ottawa with Mike's friends Eliza + kids, Ottawa, Jan 2010

Successful 14 pitch climb in Arco, Italy, May 2009

The next Uri Geller? Maybe not...Leipzig, Germany, Jan 2009

Posing after climbing at Sierra de Montsec, somewhere between 6-8 pitches, in between rapelling and traversing....I don't know if we were ever on route, Catalunia, Spain, May 2008

Jamon! At Javi's place in Vitoria, Spain, May 2008

Making strawberry-rhubarb pie - delicious! at Annastraat, Groningen, spring 2008

Staatsoper in Vienna - standing tickets for 3 Euros! Vienna, February 2008

Mike shows me his home: the Rockies, Moraine Lake, august 2007

Hiking up the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain, 2200m up, a beer and sausage on top and train down. Grainau, September 2007.

Mike in his canoe - a great trip in the Gatineau park...and yes, it is warm enough in Canada to swim. Gatienau Park, July 2007

Regional German food and a half liter of wine for lunch - visiting Christoph in the Pfalz, Germany, May 2007.

Sorting out single socks....Groningen, winter 2007

Trip to Amsterdam, walking around the Grachten, fall 2006.

Homer! Halloween at Inga's, Germany, october 2006.

Canoe and cycling trip to zuidlaren, Holland, july 2006

On Schiermonnikoog, Holland, may 2006

Always trying something new and interesting - African food and coconut beer, Amsterdam, april 2006

On top of St. Peter, Vatikan, during our trip to Rome, February 2006.

1m of German sausage! Christmas Market, Heidelberg, november 2005

First picture together, Landschaftspark Nord, Duisburg, Germany, november 2005.

Mike, you live on in our memories