The First Time I Died

This is an episode from my cancer memoir.

All of our lives we know we’re going to die. But then it becomes a reality, not a hazy, distant concern. When I heard those words from a physician — you have cancer — death became a reality.

Suddenly, Death sat on the seat next to me as the train hurtled me home. My encyclopedia of useless information — I speak of my brain — paged through the Death entries on file.

Henry James said, “So here it is come at last – the distinguished thing.”

Hunter S. Tho...