Why Not?

Hitch writes about his cancer:

In one way, I suppose, I have been "in denial" for some time, knowinglyburning the candle at both ends and finding that it often gives alovely light. But for precisely that reason, I can't see myself smitingmy brow with shock or hear myself whining about how it's all so unfair:I have been taunting the Reaper into taking a free scythe in mydirection and have now succumbed to something so predictable and banalthat it bores even me. Rage would be beside the point...