There was something that drawn me to him...his curiosity, his contagious smile and his perspectives.
One time, late at night, I caught him writing a e-mail to his folks back home. I read it over his shoulders. He had interesting ways to describe things that I found mundane or have gotten used to, which I loved about him. He was always making the best out of life and was very appreciative of the very simple things.
On a long bus ride when he was asleep, I went through his phone out of curiosity. He had a list of things he wanted to accomplish and skills he wanted to acquire, such as purchasing a home, learning to sail, becoming chartered and finding a good girl. He purchased a home shortly after going back home. As for finding a good girl, he's never been in love and he refused to settle for less. "You're the nicest guy I have ever met" I said to him. "I'm just a very normal guy" he answered, which I still find unbelievable.
His knee was deformed and he had many surgeries. His doctor warned him that he could not do any high impact sports anymore. Three weeks later, he was running on the beach. He went on to climb the rooftop of Africa, Kilimanjaro, and continued to pursue his dreams. He was unstoppable.
He is actually the one who inspired me to love mountains and to embrace nature. He made me want to live my life differently. I remember he enjoyed walking with naked feet...he never forgets the earth, and the earth would certainly never forget him.
We enjoyed crazy boat rides that made me vomit the life out of me, we slept at the bottom of Kilimanjaro, we went game driving, sunset watching and many late night talks under the milky way...he made my trip to Africa unforgettable. I remember how he hated it when I gave him orders, which now makes me laugh...and cry.
On November 15th, Michael died in the Himalayas after a falling rock severed his climbing ropes as he descended a peak near Mount Everest.
I really miss him. He had a tattoo on his right arm that read "One life". I hate tattoos, but on him, it was perfect. Nobody could have wore that tattoo better than him.