The nut

Share one of the best gifts you’ve ever received.

Very few people have surprised me with gifts—and even fewer surprised me with something extremely thoughtful.

Decades ago, I had the privilege to learn trad climbing from one of the best climbers in Brazil, Alexandre Portela. I took a course with him and my partner was a special friend, Nelson Barretta. For a week or so, we hung on the walls of Rio taking it all in from Ale.

It was incredible and also nerve-wracking. My fear of heights took some practice out of the equation when I couldn’t manage it as well. But I was there, and it was a special moment.

At the end of it, like a jewel, I got one nut—a metal wedge threaded on a wire that climbers use for protection by wedging it into a crack in the rock. It was not a set, but one. Neatly packed into a small box.

I was certainly not expecting a gift. And even less, such a meaningful one. It was a huge and emotional surprise. The nut brought me back not only to that special week, but also how important our friendship is and how I can rely on him as my safety net… just like a nut when perfectly placed into a crack in the rock.