Aragorn

A whole month has passed. My brother had a plum-sized (fortunately benign) tumor removed from his brain. The bad news reached me almost at the same time as the news that a publisher was interested in »The Mark«. Sting once said in an interview that his greatest 'successes' were always accompanied by deep, personal crises. What is there to wish for? What is the price of success? But that's not what I'm about. I want a roof over my head. Food. Drink. To write. And on some days I was already short of food and drink. (Even if you can't tell by looking at me - remember: even an overweight person feels really hungry after three days.) I burnt a mini CD for my brother, including 'Troy' by the Fanta Vier: "You had bad times and we were there too. We'll be with you - we'll stay troy." Hunger is bad. But almost losing my brother is worse.

Favorite Line: »Don't You Let Go!« - Return of the King (2003)

Reminder: My brother took me to the cinema to see »The Rescuers« (1977). I learned to read with the 'book to the film'. He has done over 1,000 parachute jumps and runs a marathon in his fifties. He is taciturn and has a beard like Aragorn from 'Lord of the Rings'. He plays guitar and came to jazz via the blues. I don't remember ever really arguing with him. He and his wife argue frequently and violently - but they need that to reassure themselves of their mutual love. I wouldn't know what to do without him.

Sting once said that his greatest successes were always accompanied by deep, personal crises. I now understand the truth in that statement. Balancing the joy of a publisher's interest in my work with the fear and relief of my brother's health scare makes me ponder the true cost of success.