The 8.5 Lives

 Two days after infusion with a monoclonal antibody for cancer Michael was back up into the mountains. On the way up we saw distressing logging of the steep road cuts along Hwy 32. This isn't a great shot but gives you an idea that nothing will be left to hold back the slides.

 The reason I called this the 8.5 lives is because Michael has survived so many things that might have killed the rest of us...

 I've only heard a few of the stories-- parachutes that don't open right, being behind enemy lines without a back-up, helicopters that you didn't take and that were brought down, skiing into rocks, bike crashes, nail gun shot to the eye...

 Despite being almost in white face with zinc oxide the sun still got him hard though. The dancing light, the sweet space surrounding us, the pure blue, the pockets of powder, the beauty of his poetry coming joyfully down the mountain. It is all worth it.. Life clean and chilled and vast.

I've given up my skis and just clump up and down the mountains on my big feet snow shoes. Happy to be there and trying to keep up with Michael.