sherpas, sherpa guide

[Herb Stahlke]

In an MSNBC report on the Obama-Netanyahu meetings a reported said,
"The sherpas prepared well..," presumably referring to the staffs of
the two leaders.  Urban Dictionary lists "sherpa" and "sherpa guide."
"Sherpa" is defined as "A lady's shaggy-haired NEPALESE FRIEND; the
constant FEMALE MENTOR who, from an entrenched, central vantage-point,
influences all her thoughts and actions; her bearded ALTER EGO and
beating heart; her GUSSET GURU."  Two other definitions reference
mountain climbing guides, an obvious extension, and "short Philipino
people who have accents and walk slowly."  "Sherpa guides" has a
definition that's closer to the reporter's usage, an aide and
sometimes eminence grise to a public figure.  The term was new to me,
apart from its use a the name of a people living around Everest.

Herb

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