Sometimes I get a reminder from out of nowhere that I am fortunate. Perhaps I whine for no reason.
My cousin’s boyfriend called; he passed the phone to his colleague, a man in his forties. He wanted to talk to me because his daughter just went through her second brain surgery. She had Astrocytoma too. She had two brain tumors.
‘Is there something that you think might help?’ he asked.
‘Well,’ I said. ‘Once she recovers, take her to a psychologist. The fear of death…’ I babbled on.
‘I just want to make sure you understand that she is only 15. Just to put it into context…’ he said.
Still, I babbled on. Then it dawned on me. He called because I was the boy who lived.
‘How is she?’ I asked.
He sighed. ‘She was ok after the first surgery. It was a 7 centimeter diameter tumor. It came out nice and clean and we were pleased. Then in a few weeks they’d discovered the second one, only 2 cms in diameter. They took that out and now she is partially paralyzed on her right side.’
‘I see,’ I said. ‘Well… The shrink is important. And I am at your disposal if you think talking to her might help. I hope she’ll fully recover.’
‘That’s what we’re hoping now too,’ he said.

Fred Saberhagen’s Book of Lost Swords is a great series. My favorites are: Coinspinner, Wayfinder, Woundhealer, Sightblinder. I also liked the Mindsword – nuts!
I am rereading Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser. I really like it.
Buying a bike… Maybe the day after tomorrow. A cyclocross.

I’m avoiding the topic… All right. I’m single again. I can’t really talk about it. I don’t think I should talk about it. Maybe sometime in the future I might bring it up. For now I don’t want to stir up the why, the what, the when. It’s difficult, it’s painful. I can’t even bring myself to answer a text message.
There was no one else – I guess it was not meant to be. I’m not being flippant, btw.

Provisionally sold my third novel. It’s another book of unadulterated filth. No aphrodisiac substances though, and no nuns. I really ought to get an agent. I mean, no nuns.
Bought a bike. It's awesome!