John-Ward Leighton

GO FIGURE

What do you say to a man with a life ending sickness, when nothing short of a major miracle can save him? We can say we don’t believe in miracles but most of us still buy lottery tickets with odds of thirteen million to one for two dollars, and twenty six million to one for five dollars.

We gauge the person in the life threatening dilemma, his or her character, battles won or lost; their morals and values, their physical stamina and then try to project these facts as if the disease would take any notice.

I’m in the position right now with two of my friends in life and death struggles with the big “C”. It’s a time to keep my thoughts to myself and for once in my life listen to what my friends are saying. Aside from being there and perhaps being able to provide solace there is not much you can do.

Having survived two bouts with the big “C”, both were caught very early and the treatments were relatively benign as so I survived, see good luck versus good management.

One of the friends is in Newfoundland, I served in the Army with him in MG63 1QOR of C in Germany, but aside from e mails and good wishes there is not much I can do. The other, who is in not quite as dire straits, a fellow photographer, is here in Vancouver and I count him and his wife and children as being amongst my dearest friends.

We all imagine a future with everybody intact and alive, but who among us knows the future? There are things we should not put off, like saying “I love you.” so that if the person suddenly leaves this mortal coil it can be one of the last thoughts they have as their life flashes before their eyes.

All our gadgets and civilization gives us the illusion of control when really we are at the mercy of fate and random selection. The fact that we live as long as we live is more a product of “dumb luck” than good management. What ordains where you are born and to what parents and at what time and when you go to the doctor and he guesses right? Our hubris says that somehow we are the anointed and deserve the bounty fate has allotted us.

It has been my experience that you can, in the eyes of the world, do everything right and it comes out all wrong. Or you can make all sorts of dumb ass mistakes and come out smelling like a rose.

Go figure?