[sharkchomp]

I spent several hours today with my friend who has brain cancer. We talked about that deep dark subject that is so difficult to have with someone who is terminally ill. Death. He is a former marine and his favorite saying is BITFO - bring it the fuck on - but since he underwent the cyberknife treatment his brain is swelling and it's affecting his vision in his left eye. He also doesn't have much strength in the left side of his body. He talked of how he was an instructor in the Marines and he went all over the world training marines on jungle warfare, how to climb/survive on glaciers, etc and how he taught these soldiers how they could do anything. And he could do anything. Anything. And now he can't do anything. He couldn't even close the car door. He is facing death. And while he is doing this he is still so kind, so positive, inspiring. We went out to dinner and in the middle of dinner he looks at me and says, "I'm so glad we came back together (because we hadn't seen each other in a long time before this past summer)." I am left bitter, angry, inspired and sad. And rather sobered as it makes me realize even in my difficult times I'm not facing death. But when I do I hope I can handle it with the grace and honor my friend has.

~~~shark~~~~~~~~~