It all began in early 2022 when a good friend and fellow WKPP exploration cave diver asked me if I was a member of the world-renowned Explorers Club. He noticed I frequently comment on the groups social media posts and was a regular attendee of their monthly talks livestreamed to the masses via YouTube. My response “I wish.” Matt was shocked. He reminded me of my diving credentials, research expeditions around the world, and publications, stating, “… We need to fix that.”
Within the next few weeks, I found myself filling out the application. I had hoped for admittance at the National Member level. I assumed the criteria for the coveted “Fellow” designation was far out of my reach despite having just been promoted to an Associate Professor. I poured my heart into that hand-written application. I remember explaining to my mum how nervous I was because I thought the Club’s Membership Committee would think I was a joke. To say the Imposter Syndrome is strong would be an understatement. She didn’t have a clue about what the club did or who their esteemed membership included, but she assured me they would accept be among the ranks. Sadly, I never got a chance to tell her she was right. I submitted my form along with my Recommendation Letters from two incredible explorers, Dr. Matthew Levin and Alex Wallace, FRGS, and hoped for the best.
A few months went by and life marched on. I certainly didn’t forget about my application but was just inundated with work and upcoming research projects. Then, on 6 October 2022, at 5:32 pm, the unthinkable happened. I was standing in the Main Campus library at the University where I teach. I was talking to our Lab Instructor and a few students when my phone rang. It was my niece. With a broken voice, she told me that my mum and brother were gone. A few hours before they had taken their own lives. Further, due to the stress, my dad had suffered a massive heart attack.
Time slowed down to a crawl. Over the next two days, I drove to Maryland. Their house needed to be cleaned ASAP. As it was a HazMat scene, a special crew would need to be hired. My dad was being held in Cardiac ICU as doctors worked to assess the damage. As I sat in a funeral home, making arrangements for cremations and writing obituaries my phone buzzed. I looked at the newly arrived email from The Explorers Club. I’ll never forget those words as long as I breath, “Welcome . . . you’ve been accepted as a Fellow.”
Every year in April, The Explorers Club holds their annual Members Weekend and Dinner, aka ECAD, at the Club Headquarters in New York City. The building is stunning, situated at East 70th Street. The beautiful red stone façade with the iconic flag flying above the main entrance is a site to behold. I was so nervous the first time I stepped foot inside. I suppose I would have rather faced a bull elephant in musth than enter this exploration time machine. Nevertheless, in I went.
The building contains 6 floors of the most historical artifacts related to exploration. Moving into the members only lounge and bar, to the left of the foyer, one can find gear from Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzig Norgay’s first accent of Everest and Thor Heyerdahl’s Kon-Tiki Globe. I must be in the wrong place! For the next few hours I wondered each floor, greeted by smiles and welcoming words. From the Greely Expedition and Rescue artifacts in the Library, Percy the Polar Bear and the bell from the US Coast Guard cutter the Bear outside the Flag Room, the Archives, the Wall of Notable Members, Teddy Roosevelts handwritten application in the aptly named Rosevelt Room, the Yeti Scalp in the Gallery, to the legendary Map Room . . . I had arrived.
Over the next few days, I met so may amazing people. Astronauts, Space Archaeologists, Volcanologists, Marine Biologists, Egyptologists, it was a who’s who of modern explorers. Grant and EC50 awardees shared presentations highlighting their research and areas of expertise. Expedition leaders returned flags and discussed their field work. I was at a loss of words. I drank Shackleton Whisky poured over the ice from an artic glacier. It was heaven!
Saturday was the gala dinner held at the Glasshouse. It was a sea of tuxedos and designer dresses walking the red carpet. I opted for a slender black dress. Not to be fashionable but because I typically end up wearing what I attempt to eat or drink and black hides it well. As soon as I was in the venue, I got my picture taken in front of the TEC backdrop then headed to the world famous hors d’ oeuvre table featuring invasive species and bugs. I told myself that I would try everything, and I did. The dry roasted tarantula, pan-fried scorpion, array of worms, crickets, and cockroaches, I ate them all like a champ. The only thing I will say put a bit of a lump in my throat were the fat grubs on a skewer. It wasn’t the taste, but rather the way their little bodies popped when you bit into them.
Host of Expedition Unknown, Josh Gates, was the MC for the evening, welcoming the award winners to the stage and assisting with the auction. Luckily, to my left, I was seated by Shark Biologist, Dr. Micki McCombs-Kubza. We hit it off immediately! She is one of the loveliest people I’ve ever met, and I’m happy to say we remain great friends. To my right was Dr. Pål Brekke, author, film producer, Lead Norwegian Space Scientist, and all-around incredible human. What a night!
The last day at the club was the member’s only meeting and more presentations. I was so inspired! One last collective toast as the weekend came to a close and I was off to the airport to catch my red eye flight back to Orlando. I couldn’t wait to get home and tell my husband, Angelo, about my latest adventure. I was so amped up on the flight that I couldn’t sleep. Instead, I sat in silence recapping the last few days and then years. How did a little girl who grew up in a trailer from a very low-income area of Western Maryland end up here? I thought of my mum and brother. I hope I’ve made her proud. Ad Astra per Aspera, mama.
