The big C

About a decade ago the estimate for the Western people was one in four. Now it's come down to one in three. That's cancer for you. 

Considering the odds it's foolish that I still keep on leading the life I lead. It's like I'm asking for trouble. My lifestyle makes my future seem like a candy store from hell. Lung cancer, liver cancer, skin cancer- you choose. 

Someone I grew up with got it when he was still in nursery. A friend's fiancé got it last year. I had't even been introduced to him and yet I found myself having fairly intimate conversations about the colour of his testicles. Another friend got it and survived and all I could think about was the fact that even after chemo she had more hair than I did. (What a petty, little horrible person I am) Some were not so lucky. Two years ago I found myself at a funeral of a friend who didn't make it.

Her death was expected, yet gut-wrenchingly devastating. It had an impact on all those around her. For one friend it was the wake-up call needed to make her get all her insurances up to date. For me it was a reminder of exactly how fragile and unpredictable life is. One way or another that sickle- wielding dude in a cape gets to us but all too often we forget the  lessons we thought we learnt. For me her death was a reminder to stop putting things off and eventually saw me through a summer of hot air ballooning over Cappadocia, scuba diving, sampling lamb brains, hiking and paragliding. I decided to say "yes" to everything life threw my way and give it a go (what a shame George Clooney didn't ask me out that summer either...).

I made a promise then I have every intention of keeping for the rest of my life. I decided to keep her memory alive by living a life that leaves no room for regrets; to make sure that on my death bed I wouldn't have to look back and mentally drive down that "should have could have" cul-de-sac. And...I probably have. I've  had a good life. Stupid, reckless, care-free at times, yes... but good. I've been to many amazing places. I've experienced many things people don't get to see. I've even trashed a hotel suite! 

I just wish that The Man realized the fragility of life too. Especially at his age and with the life he leads he can't really afford to keep on living the way he does. One day you'll wake up to your door bell ringing and it won't be that clueless, pimple-faced Mormon. It will be the  Grim Reaper, grinning and wielding that sickle. And by then it will be too late to realize that this really is it. You were given one life and you chose to fuck it up. On their death bed no-one wishes they had worked more and paid less attention to their loved one. Quite the opposite, apparently.

Remember that anecdote about that woman on  the deck of Titanic, already sinking and wishing she had taken another slice of that chocolate cake after all?  Don't mind if I do...