The meaning of life

Indeed, what is the meaning of life? In my first half century of this trek from here to there (I write casually, as if I'm saying say "the first of my three or four..."), I've asked this questions many times, and received myriad responses. Those who know me really well won't be surprised to hear me evoke Douglas Adam's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which I first discovered on the bookshelf of the New Lenox, Illinois Public Library somewhere around eighth grade. (I almost didn't read it because it looked too silly. But pick it up—and read it—I did; I have always been—and remain—entirely and completely anything but far from unserious.)

Ask Siri "What is the meaning of life?"
and get back a surprising answer. 

So when I recently encountered Siri's response to this question (thanks to the interwebs, because I don't own an iPhone), I thought it both fitting and timely, at least in relation to this impending trek through Nepal. Here, Siri is conveniently giving us advice I'm already taking: "get some walking in." Indeed, Siri, Siriously?

But I'm not embarking on just any walking. I'm taking that walk idea, and turning it up, not just to 10, but all the way up to 11*.

But why stop there? No, I don't mean "turn it up to 12"; that would be utterly absurd. I mean the other points. Try and be nice to people. Let's turn that up to 11, too. Read a good book? Sure, turn that up to 11, and quality education for all, while we're at it. And that trying to live together in harmony? With people of all creeds and nations? Yes, let's turn that up to 11 as well.

It's easy to trivialize the writ and wit of Siri or even Douglas Adams (though the latter would get me more riled up; I mean the man was a genius...) If I were going for trivial, I'd have started with Monty Python.

Although I'm putting a light veneer on this topic, I'm honestly not trying to trivialize this topic. Several friends have told me that taking a trek like this is a life-changing experience. I hope so. However, I'm not sure in what dimension that change will turn out to be. My hope is that this experience will help me focus on those non-walking areas of my life as well. I think I've done a fair job of being a good husband, good father, good employee, good citizen. Things seem to be turning out quite well in all those areas... but none of us are ever really satisfied with our effort and contributions: there is always more to give. Have I turned that knob up to 11 on all of those measures? Have you? How has your journey from here to there helped you turn it up to 11?

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* From This is Spinal Tap, which is not really a favorite movie of mine, but which has defined the cultural touchpoint I need for this blog post. Unfortunately: "eleven, eleven, eleven".... it does not add up to 42.

Nigel Tufnel: The numbers all go to eleven. Look, right across the board, eleven, eleven, eleven and... Marty DiBergi: Oh, I see. And most amps go up to ten? Nigel: Exactly. Marty: Does that mean it's louder? Is it any louder? Nigel: Well, it's one louder, isn't it? It's not ten. You see, most blokes, you know, will be playing at ten. You're on ten here, all the way up, all the way up, all the way up, you're on ten on your guitar. Where can you go from there? Where? Marty: I don't know. Nigel: Nowhere. Exactly. What we do is, if we need that extra push over the cliff, you know what we do? Marty: Put it up to eleven. Nigel: Eleven. Exactly. One louder. Marty: Why don't you just make ten louder and make ten be the top number and make that a little louder? Nigel: [pause] These go to eleven.