THE LAST WORD:

For those of us who get winded climbing a few flights of stairs, we are awed by Bill Burke nearly summitting Mt. Everest. The Costa Mesa man came within 330 feet of the tallest mountain’s peak and had to turn around. That’s roughly the length of a football field. If you’re anything like us, you’d have trouble running across a football field, much less scaling it at that altitude.

If he had gotten to the top, climbing colleagues believe the 65-year-old would have been the oldest to summit Everest. No matter how you look at it, Burke still accomplished something tremendous.

And we’re thrilled to hear he’s on his way home not much worse for the wear. We’re sure when his wife, Sharon, serves up his favorite homemade tacos and cherry pie that they’ll taste that much sweeter. Oh yeah, and the Los Angeles Times and the Daily Pilot — your favorite coffee-table reading — will still be here, too.

But, heck, you’re making the rest of us look bad, Bill. Maybe it’s time for some of us to hit the gym.

All kidding aside, hurry on home, Bill. We can’t wait to give you a hero’s welcome.