Just
over a year ago he came out of surgery that removed most of a malignant tumour
from his brain. Since then he has intermittently written about his experiences,
as well as providing illuminating book and film reviews on his blog, Buddies in the Saddle. His prime interest
may be westerns in all guises, but his inquisitive brain ranges way beyond that
wild frontier.
“My
memories of that time are marked by the sound of cactus wrens outside my
bedroom, chattering away each morning as I welcomed the new day, sometimes
after an endless night of dreadful dreams and sleeplessness…. And I marveled at
the flowering plants sent by a family friend. Here we were alive together.”
“…I
will give consideration to the insights of others. Here metaphors come in
handy, as do wordless experiences like stepping outside at night under a desert
sky to be awestruck by the display of moon and stars. Or to listen to music
that convinces me it embodies the living playful spirit of the Universe—the
music of the spheres.”
I
wrote about Ron in two blogs last year and have been remiss in not writing
more. You can find them here:
Or better still, go to his blog. Some
of his more recent observations about his ability – or even inability – to combat
problems caused by the big ‘c’ and the medication can be seen here:
We
writers strive to convey some of the ‘human condition’ in our fiction. Here,
Ron gives us truly moving examples of it in beautiful prose. A heartfelt ‘thank
you’, Ron. Keep writing!
2 comments:
He has a wonderful way with words, his book on western novels is terrific. His insight on cancer is both uplifting and sad. One of my favorite blogs.
I agree, Neil, his blog is indeed uplifting and at the same time poignant.
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