Mt Baker- Day 74- 73(High Adventure, Apologies, and Lorna Doone cookies)

Only a brief moment. Just finished a case in the OR. A patient with cancer of the tongue. Had been previously radiated some years back for cancer of the nasopharynx. Hopefully, the surgery makes the difference for this young man. Need to get some rest tonight. Have another major surgery tomorrow at 7:30 AM. It is a young woman with a vascular lesion in the infratemporal fossa. It's a difficult case that requires the collaborative expertise of several colleagues - no less a challenge than climbing a summit. Given that I have only a moment, my apologies for being brief and, for that matter, while we are at it, I apologize to those friends and loved ones I know for, at times, saying too much. I will try to correct my ways and avoid embarrasing and uncomfortable statements.

Performing these surgical cases does require some preparation, mostly in the form of rest. Last night for instance, I had just finished a 75 minute workout on the legs with Paul G; the purpose for climbing endurance. I was hoping to later meet a long time friend, Andrew F, along with our drinking mates at the Dive Bar on the upper west side to discuss important matters. Who, for instance, was eligible for the hall of fame in baseball despite a relatively short career? Concerned about the early OR case, I had to settle for more sedate plans. In this case, it was a quiet evening on a soft leather chair in the library of the Harvard Club. I settled in with an evening night cap and a box of Lorna Doone cookies. Mostly just taking in the ambience and attempting to cast away concerns, including medicine, training for climbing, confusing relationships, and the other "business-as-usual"affairs that clutter the mind. Maybe, a good book would help. Although with my attention span, I probaby would only get through the cover inserts. I just happened to look down in front of me at the books on the bottom shelf, not looking for anything or expecting anything in particular. At that moment, I happened to note a collection of old relatively warn out publications. There was one book that was closest to reach and I picked it up. Remind you, this was supposed to be an evening of rest and escape. Brought the book close enough to see and, no joke, I could not believe it. The book with the cover nearly completely torn from the ensuing pages happened to be the first edition, published in 1955, of, you won't believe it, the writings of Sir Edmund Hillary about his journey with the Sherpa, Tenzing Norgay, to be the first ever persons to summit Mount Everest. The book - High Adventure. No lie, no rest for the weary,and within a brief moment the cookies started to go fast. I knew that my early sleep was not to be had. But for now, I will have to finish this story or, should I say, Sir Edmund's story, some other time. Right now, its late at night. The box of Lorna Doones are now gone. I will take my escape with better dreams --- perhaps, Tenzing and I on the top of Mt Everest.