Reckless

It was a long journey up the mountain, from the airport to the base of the volcano—the taxi negotiating switchback after switchback, steadily gaining altitude. Looking down through the clouds at the gleaming, azure ocean, I couldn't help a nostalgic smile.

35 days earlier
JD and I had recently made this same journey up the mountain together. But that time our smiles had been more nervous (shit-scared?) than anything else. We’d come to Tenerife to cycle. The good news: our hotel felt like a chalet that had somehow landed in the middle of a moon crater. The bad news: the drive took about an hour. If we were to pedal up the entirety of the mountain the days would be long. Of course, we didn't *have* to go for the entirety of it, but that would have felt like cheating. More eloquently put by Don Quixote: ‘just as it is easier for the prodigal to be generous than the miser, it is easier for the reckless man to become truly brave than for the coward.’

Happy 14.6 month thrivorship!
Our legs became a little braver that week, and so did my blood count. But back so soon? Believe it or not it was Ingrid’s idea, the aim being for me to get another red blood cell boost by sleeping at altitude. This should give my body more time to keep absorbing the chemotherapy, which continues to do a pretty good job kicking the tumour’s ass. So add altitude training to the list of ingredients that we’ve added to what the medical profession calls the‘Gold Standard’ treatment. ‘Reckless’, my oncologist would say. And indeed we don't know how much impact it will have. But the same could be said of so many of the alternative treatments that allow me today to celebrate my first 14.6 month thrivorship anniversary 14.6 months? The median life expectancy after diagnosis for people with GBM. Thrivorship (see www.thrivor.com)? Yes, surviving is important, but what's the point of doing so without thriving?

A few days later
There were also plenty of nervous (shit-scared?) smiles—mainly from Ingrid!—as I (recklessly?) changed my first diaper. Yes, it was on a doll. Alas, I still managed to make a mess! Never mind, we’re much braver after our parenting course (thanks for the recommendation Libby) and feel about as ready to thrive as rookie parents can.

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So many climbs! I guess with all the suffering and joy they create they’re at the heart of life’s beauty. As one of the most reckless and bravest men in history said (hint: he was not a sports personality!): ‘after climbing a great hill, one only finds that that there are many more hills to climb’.

Hour by hour, day by day, month by month… here we go again. Shut up legs!