PULP UNCHAINED: A Tarantino Retrospective

written by MJ Preston
 
Resevoir Dogs Planning the Caper Scene Excerpt:
Steve Buscemi:    Why am I Mr. Pink
Lawrence Tierney:    Because you're a faggot alright!
Michael Madsen:  Turns and laughs
Steve Buscemi:    Why can't we pick our own colors?
Lawrence Tierney:    No way. No way. Doesn't work. You get five guys all fighting over who wants to be Mr. Black. Nobody knows each other so nobody wants to back down. No way. I pick. You're Mr. Pink! Be thankful you're not Mr. Yellow.
Quentin Tarantino:    Yeah well Mr. Brown, that's sounds a little to close to shit.
Steve Buscemi:    Mr Pink sounds like Mr. Pussy. How bout if I'm Mr. Purple. That's good for me I'll be Mr. Purple.
Lawrence Tierney:    You're not Mr. Purple, some guy on some other job is Mr. Purple. You're Mr. Pink!

   This was the first introduction I got to a hip young director named Quentin Tarantino, who instantly gained a cult following with his independent film: Reservoir Dogs. I had never seen anything like it. Cool music, excellent dialogue, and bloody violence turned up full blast. Quentin Tarantino was actually paying homage to the films he grew up with. The 70's drive-in classics like: Rolling Thunder or Dirty Mary Crazy Larry. Since the release of Reservoir Dogs,  Tarantino went on to write the scripts: True Romance and Natural Born Killers. Tarantino would only take story credit, for Natural Born Killers, due to tinkering with the script on the part of Oliver Stone. Tarantino then went on to write and direct Pulp Fiction which gained critical appeal and turned him from independent to on demand. Pulp Fiction, like Reservoir Dogs, was a gritty crime drama with plenty of violence infused with great dialogue and dark comedic undercurrents. It grossed over $200 million at the box office and gained the respect of the critics.

     Tarantino would follow that up with Jackie Brown, which received the scorn of Director Spike Lee. It was Lee's contention

that Tarantino's use of the "N" word and portrayal of African American's was disrespectful. This started a feud between the two directors that is still going on today with Tarantino's latest flick D'Jango Unchained. Longtime friend and Actor in many of Tarantino's films, Samuel L Jackson defended the use of the word in films saying.  "Jackie Brown" and "Django Unchained" are great movies, and Lee "hasn't made one of those in a few years."
     Following Jackie Brown came Tarantino's Magnum Opus: KILL BILL, which was filmed in two parts; Vol 1 and Vol 2. This film is one of my favorites, which portrays Uma Thurman as "The Bride" who sets to avenge the murder of her unborn child. The Bride is a member of a group of international assassins, but when she opts to leave they ambush her. At her wedding no less, after killing everyone in the wedding party they leave her for dead. 
     Big Mistake.

     What ensues is an inter-continental bloodbath that takes us from Pasadena, Texas to Okinawa, Japan. The first film is electric fast, filled with action, black humor and lots of bloody violence. The scene where the Bride fights the Crazy 88's (all 88 of them) with her samurai sword alone is worth twice the price of admission. The combined running time for both films is a little over four hours, but that is really the best way to view this film.
     Following Kill Bill Tarantino teamed up with his best friend Robert Rodriguez to film the double bill: Grindhouse. Each director filmed  a 70's style feature with all the imperfections, including fake trailers. The film ran as a Double Bill in theaters, but was poorly received due to its length. I, on the other hand, loved both films. In Tarantino's feature: DEATHPROOF, Kurt Russel plays Stuntman Bob, a serial killer who use car crashes to kill women. Although

this flick starts out slow, it gets exciting and funny as action picks up. You can't help but mention the second film by Rodriguez called: PLANET TERROR which is a hilarious parody of the Zombie Apocalypse. This film is chock full of comic book action, including the raven Rose McGowan spitting out one liners and using her M16 leg to mow down Zombies. It is hoot!
     Following up with the much anticipated INGLORIOUS BASTERDS of which I feel that Tarantino fell short. Not because it wasn't a well made film, but because I am somewhat of a purist when it comes to history. So if you're a Tarantino fan then by all means check it out. I have my own reasons for not loving this film.

      Then came D'Jango Unchained starring Jamie Fox, Christopher Waltz and Leonardo DiCaprio. 
     After Inglorius Basterds I approached this film with cautious optimism. But the general public, with the exception of the Spike Lee, seemed to love this film. So last night I sat down and watched it and have to say that Quentin Tarantino is back in form. And with outstanding supporting roles from Samuel L Jackson, Don Johnson, and Walton Goggons just to mention a few. 
     The story follows a partnership between a German Bounty Hunter named Doctor King Schulz [played by Christopher Waltz] and the slave he free's D'Jango [played by Jamie Fox.] Initially he frees D'Jango to help him identify the Brittle Brothers, the bounty he is pursuing. Their partnership soon turns to friendship as Schulz teaches D'Jango the way of a the gun. 
     The story follows them through the south and is set against the horror of slavery. Which is presented masterfully. While entertaining and filled with Tarantino-esque humor  the elements surrounding the horrific way the slaves were treated in the south is notable. The brutality is neither glossed over or exploited and contrary to Spike Lee's assertion that "American Slavery Was Not A Sergio Leone Spaghetti Western. " D'Jango actually brings the brutality of slavery to the forefront of the Western where it is barely mentioned, if at all,, in other Dusters.
     There were scenes in this film that were cringe-worthy, reminding us that this really was America's dark hour. But along the way we are also entertained. I will be going back for a second viewing of this film. In fact I think I am going to dig out all my Tarantino DVD's and binge on the movies with my wife for a day. I'm thinking this Friday will be Quentin Day...
     You're welcome to join us... 

Visit MJ Preston's Official Webpage

MJ Preston is the Author of the Horror Novel: THE EQUINOX

His new novel ACADIA EVENT is forecasted for release in late 2013
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 RATED AS ONE OF THE 
BEST HORROR NOVELS TO HIT BOOKSHELVES IN THE LAST 10 YEARS!!
'The Equinox' is a tour de force of brilliant writing, fast-paced action, and gritty characterisation. 
Get your copy of The Equinox  
Sold in Hardcover and Trade Paperback
Click on the books below for more details

                       

 

 
      

Behind the Apocalypse

by MJ Preston

Well this week I got a couple of things done. First off, I managed to get through another chapter of the new book and fire it off for review. This was the source of relief because I've been away from working on the book for  about eight weeks and was concerned that my absence may have stalled the creation process. Writing, at least for me, is not something that can be turned on or off at will. Perhaps that has to do with age, but then again I can remember back in my 20's laying next to my young wife and feeling that call. She didn't have to ask why I wasstaring up at the ceiling fan which hung above our bed. She knew.

     "Just go," she said and off I went into the cool basement where a six foot table and a 400 lb (more like 50) Olivetti electric typewriter waited with a fresh stack of blank white paper beside it. In that basement hung a number of movie posters, I had THE HITCHER, APOCALYPSE NOW and a few others.

      The Apocalypse Now poster sticks with me because it was where I conjured up the last name for my serial killer Stephen Hopper. Sitting low on that old movie poster was the name of a supporting actor: Dennis Hopper. Anyhow, even back then I had to listen to my Muse when he called, and sometimes that call came at 2 AM on a weeknight even though I had to be at work for 7 AM. Anyhow, I've wandered a bit here and all I really wanted to say is that my Muse is still alive and well and I still work on his schedule.

     The other thing I got to do was sit down in a roundtable with the boys from    Dark Discussions. The boys being: Philip, Eric, and Mike. In this roundtable we spoke about the new Evil Dead movie and our impressions of the film.

     I know Phil is still editing the Podcast so I'll leave it there. Only to add that these guys at Dark Discussions are the real deal. Passionate about the horror genre and they do it on their own dime.

     The last thing that got accomplished this week was that my main website at http://mjpreston.net is once again back up online. As some of you know the site was attacked for reasons I am still unclear about and we had to pull it down for almost four months. The new site is up, on it a quick bio, a page about Equinox, some photos and artwork. It is still a work in progress, so check back often as I upgrade and change the template.
     And that's really it for this blog. short and sweet.

*** 

Visit MJ Preston's Official Webpage

MJ Preston is the Author of the Horror Novel: THE EQUINOX

His new novel ACADIA EVENT is forecasted for release in late 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 RATED AS ONE OF THE 
BEST HORROR NOVELS TO HIT BOOKSHELVES IN THE LAST 10 YEARS!!
'The Equinox' is a tour de force of brilliant writing, fast-paced action, and gritty characterisation. 
Get your copy of The Equinox  
Sold in Hardcover and Trade Paperback
Click on the books below for more details

                       

Memories of Dark Corners and Diabolical Places

by MJ Preston

     One of the things I note about film-making today is the lack of imagination on the part of many production companies. Perhaps it is isn't so much their lack of imagination as it is my perception that films were much better way back when.

      When I was a kid, I was a regular movie-goer to the Chilliwack Drive-in which was immortalized in the Bryan Adams video: Summer of 69. The Chilliwack Drive-in ran films in (for lack of a better phrase) grind-house fashion. These were often low budget – over the top – titillating – films. Films I might add, they wouldn't dare run at the Paramount theater downtown, because the small Christian community in our town would have been outraged.

      I have been binging on film, writing, art and photography. These

TCM's Leatherface epitomized the 70's horror villain

four mediums are a big part of what I do, photography being the newest. Some folks are into extreme sports, others dig physical fitness, me, I have always loved the arts. Especially film. Unfortunately, when eating is an essential, the stuff I love doing takes a back seat to earning a buck, so when time allows I sit down to a good horror flick, do a bit of reading, dabble in photos and art and try to get my ass down that rabbit hole and find my muse.

     The other thing I tend to do is wander off into an almost lethargic state as I consider and think about ideas. This can happen almost anywhere, the shower, on the couch, even behind the screen of my Toshiba laptop. My mother used to affectionately call me the Nowhere Man because I'd be day-dreaming about one thing or another, not unlike the fellow the Beatles used to sing about. During these times, I'd be plotting a chapter in a book, thinking about a blank canvas or just riffing on some old film that left its mark on me.

     The other day in the shower I was enjoying the hot water beating against my shoulders as I began to consider the movies I'd seen and the impression they left on me. One film from my youth that still stands out is THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE. This film has left such a lasting impression that modern day film-makers have been trying to capture the gritty horrific feel of it in many of the new movies marketed today. In retrospect, TCM likely stands up the best, but there were other films still that left their mark on my adolescence. I remember going to see: Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things, Carrie, The Velvet Vampire, Beware the Blob and a number of other movies that scared the living shit out of me.

MODERN VAMP DIANE LEFANU TANTALIZED AND TERRIFIED

     The Velvet Vampire can actually be watched through Google video, but I remember revisiting it with my girlfriend (now wife) Karen, and pitching it to her as one of the scariest vampire flicks I'd ever seen as a kid. When we watched it together on VHS I was thoroughly embarrassed at my pitch and to this day she reminds me what a horrible low budget movie it was. In fact, as the seductress vampire Diane LeFanu talks seductively to the couple it feels more like the plot of a 70's porno. There were things about TVV that made it a very scarey film and that was it's ability to invade the imagination of a nine year old boy. I didn't know much about vampires back then, I knew about Dracula, but the idea of a beautiful seductive woman who used her sexuality to trap her victims was both terrifying and exciting at the same time. The same applied to Beware the Blob and Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things. What did they offer except horrible acting, and a ridiculous plot? But there was something else. The seed they planted in my mind unleashed a fury of excitement that pulsed through me as I recounted these films and how they effected me.

     As I got older, keeping in mind this was before most folks could afford video player/recorder, I watched films evolve with better special effects, better plots and they delivered. The original Evil Dead was filmed on a shoe string budget, made by college kids still wet behind the ears, but for the most part they delivered. In fact it caught the attention of Stephen King who gave it the plug: THE MOST FEROSCIOUSLY ORIGINAL HORROR FILM OF THE YEAR. King was already cemented into the minds of the genre as the “King of Horror” and his plug helped capture the attention of New Line Cinema which eventually picked the the low budget film up and ran it in theaters.

     The recent release of what was thought to be an EVIL DEAD

remake, allowed me to talk my wife Karen into attending an afternoon viewing of the film so that I could join a round table palaver about it on an upcoming episode of Dark Discussions. We watched it and I am reserving my comments about the new film until that episode airs, but it spurred me to go back and re-watch the original.

     From a technical point of view, the original ED is a work of art. Yes, the special effects are very dated, the score is over-dramatic and the acting is, well, kind of amateur. But what makes this film great is the very fact that it has become a template for other films and it was able to evolve from serious horror to comic book horror with two successful sequels.

     After sitting through the original I was again reminded that the memory of a young person draws on their imagination in recalling  a film that impressed them. Not everything is what it seemsm but for me, Evil Dead was a scary film. The effects, the weird spiraling octaves of sound and the evil force moving through the woods certainly seemed far better when recalled and now seem rather dated when watched. But in contrast to many of today's horror films that are so dependent on CGI and the “Gross Out factor” – the original Evil Dead is a superior film.

     That is not to say that all new productions are shit. This year and last I saw a couple films that really captured that old black magic of TCM and EVIL DEAD. Films like: INSIDIOUS, SINISTER are two very solid modern horror films.

     Yesterday I spent a good number of hours comparing a remakes to the originals and have to say that I enjoyed some of the remakes more. This will get me in trouble with the Purists, but I thought the new Dawn of the Dead was way better than the original. It was scary, fun, and the effects were great. The other film I watched that outdid its predecessor was The Crazies. I'd never seen the original and gave it a watch yesterday. Good grief, I guess you can improve on the past if you have the right vision.

      So that's it, a "ramble on" about movies new and old. I'm sure if you're like me you'll keep those memories near a dear as you recall that movie which hooked you. I guess the real challenge today is not to remake and surpass it, but to make something new and original that has the power to set the movie-goers imagination on fire.

***

MJ Preston is the Author of the Horror Novel: THE EQUINOX

His new novel ACADIA EVENT is forecasted for release in late 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 RATED AS ONE OF THE 
BEST HORROR NOVELS TO HIT BOOKSHELVES IN THE LAST 10 YEARS!!
'The Equinox' is a tour de force of brilliant writing, fast-paced action, and gritty characterisation. 
Get your copy of The Equinox  
Sold in Hardcover and Trade Paperback
Click on the books below for more details

                       

FILM: WHAT'S HOT! WHAT'S NOT!

     Well I'm back home and enjoying a little down time after a long and arduous winter North of the 60^thparallel. Since getting back I have started back into my writing routine and taken the time to catch up on a few flicks I've been hearing about, but haven't had the time to watch.
     The first film I watched was a flick called Outpost Black Sun. Right from the get go. What a cool title! After all, it conjures up all sorts of thoughts, including remote outposts where bad things happen. Then I read the synopsis and was a little more excited.
     At the end of the second world war a German scientist has invented a machine that turns ordinary Nazi soldiers into immortal beings. Actually the immortal beings are actually Zombies dressed in Nazi uniforms and that conjures up the kid in me. Immediately I thought about the 1977 classic Shock Waves starring veteran horror mainstay Peter Cushing and I remembered how I loved the concept.

     This tale is set in present day and follows Lena (played by Catherine Steadman), an investigator tracking Nazi war criminals who stumbles upon a map that leads her to an unspecified part of Europe. Possibly the Balkans. When she arrives  she finds herself shaken down by local militia and as a result teams up with another sleuth named Wallace (played by Richard Coyle) who is hot on the trail of the scientist who has developed the technology.

     While I was willing to forgive the political correctness of casting a young pretty female in the role of Nazi hunter I could not get past the other flaws this film had. The characters are shallow lacking depth or personality. Even worse, the film really couldn't decide whether it was a horror flick or an action flick.  While I wasn't expecting blockbuster, I would have still liked a good creepshow  that harkened back to that 1974 flick with Nazi Zombies. Outpost Black Sun is actually a sequel to Outpost which was released in 2008 in which a group of mercenaries stumble upon the same Nazi Bunker. I can't give you a fair assessment of that film, but if its anything like the sequel I wouldn't be ordering the box set.  Better yet, pick up a copy of Shock Waves and check out some bitching Nazi Zombies that walk underwater and pop up in the most frightening of places.

     Now on to something a little darker and better acted. The second film I watched was an independent called: We need to talk about Kevin. 
   Well the title pretty much says it all doesn't it? Kevin is the son of Franklin and Eva played by John C Reilly and Tilda Swinton.  In reality, Reilly is really a supporting character, as it is carried by Swinton's character Eva along with outstanding support from Ezra Miller who plays teenage Kevin. 

    As the story unfolds we follow Eva through her solitary torment as she recounts her son's evolving sociopathic personality from a baby to a teenager. Their relationship is combative almost from birth. Though she she tries to connect with her son,he resists becoming increasingly cruel and aggressive. Franklin, Kevin's father, seems oblivious to his son's unusual behavior, until their youngest daughter loses an eye and Kevin shows no remorse.

Tilda Swinton (Eva) with Jasper Newell as (Young Kevin)

    Early on we know that something terrible has happened, but the film takes us in a number of directions through a series of flashbacks that peel back the many layers of dysfunction.
     Swinton carries the role of Eva with little effort and delivers a tortured and melancholy individual that is all too believable. Scorned by townspeople and haunted by memories, she has little to do but immerse herself in a haze of alcohol and prescription drugs.

    In the aftermath of real life school shootings, the most recent being Sandy Hook CT, there is a sinister message in this film that reminds us that such things are not restricted to fiction. It is also a reminder that the victims of such terrible tragedies are also the family of the perpetrator.

     Both Tilda Swinton and Ezra Miller give outstanding performances in this film. The overall direction of the film was carried out flawlessly through a series of sequenced redirects.
     It is my understanding that the book, written by Lionel Shriver, is a number of correspondences with her estranged husband about Kevin's actions. I have not read it, but reviews of the 2003 publication are pretty solid. This may have made for a very difficult film adaption, but director screenwriter Lynne Ramsay with Rory Kinnear deliver a powerful adaption of the bestselling novel.     I highly recommend this film, if not for anything, but to watch Swinton deliver the goods. 

***

MJ Preston is the Author of the Horror Novel: THE EQUINOX

His new novel ACADIA EVENT is forecasted for release in late 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 RATED AS ONE OF THE 
BEST HORROR NOVELS TO HIT BOOKSHELVES IN THE LAST 10 YEARS!!
'The Equinox' is a tour de force of brilliant writing, fast-paced action, and gritty characterisation. 
Get your copy of The Equinox  
Sold in Hardcover and Trade Paperback
Click on the books below for more details

                       

Go North (cough cough) Young Man

 By MJ Preston

     Last year I ventured into the Northwest Territories to experience what it would be like to run the infamous Ice-roads as an Ice Road Trucker. When I got there I discovered that  the NWT is likely one of the most beautiful places on earth in the winter.  The sky is awash pastel colors and the night aglow with the majesty of the Northern Lights and I didn't regret it one bit, but in all honesty I decided to go ahead with this adventure for a number of reasons, but mainly for the following:

• I needed the money;
• I was thinking about walking away from the trucking industry and thought seeing the North would be nice way to finish my career; and
• I needed a little perspective and running up there afforded me the time to do some personal inventory and serious reflection.

From the drivers seat of the Blue Western Star

     A year later I am getting ready to do it all over again and from there I'm not sure where I will go, but I do know that this year will be different then the last.

     Going North also became the seed from which my new novel is growing quite rapidly. Unfortunately, once I get up onto the ice, I will not be able to write or do all the other extra-curricular such as hanging with the folks at Dark Discussions or getting into a book or two. So Acadia Event will be put down for awhile, at least in the conventional sense. I will not be pounding away on the keyboard, but I may use my voice recognition program for all the little eureka moments I tend to have when I'm driving.

     What I will be doing again this year is donning my camera and taking a whole hockey sock, excuse the pun, of new pictures. I've got a brand new tripod I'm dying to try out and I've gained a little more experience with the equipment. So that should fun.

The now retired Mackenzie Ferry crossing in low water conditions

     Hopefully, by the time I get back my website will be back up to par. This has been a shitty year in technology. The attack (unprovoked I might add) on my website completely screwed up everything I was putting together this year which included podcasting THE EQUINOX. Then four days ago my laptop took a nose dive and I was forced to format it. Thankfully I had all the important stuff backed up, but I lost a whole bunch of music and pretty much every email address I didn't know by heart. To add insult to injury I sent a collective email out to everyone before zero hour and managed to screw up the address. At any rate my website email is back up and running if you need to contact me and I'll add you to my address book. Again.

     Send your email to mjprestonATmjpreston.net

A view from the diamond mine. Maintenance Building

     So in 2013 I have some short term goals. First of all I want to be home more, I haven't figured out if that facilitates a move or a change of career. I guess we'll figure it out. I'm going to have Acadia Event ready for publication this year and I am going to start back on two books waiting in the wings. One is a thriller horror called: 4 and the other straight book based loosely on my own life.

     I also want to get back to doing the things I enjoy doing. I've only been on board three times with the guys at Dark Discussions, but I want to join them at their roundtable when they'll have me. These folks are first rate and knowledgeable? Man they put me to shame. Philip, Eric, and Mike, you guys rock.
     I'll also be downloading the podcasts I have come to know and love. Dark Discussions,  The Askancity Podcast and few new ones as well like Scary Scribes and Horror Etc.  The folks on these sites, among others, will be joining me as I run across the barrens just south of the Arctic Circle.

     So that about wraps for this blog up. Happy New Year to all, may 2013 be all you want it to be.

*** 

MJ Preston is the Author of the Horror Novel: THE EQUINOX

His new novel ACADIA EVENT is forecasted for release in late 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 RATED AS ONE OF THE 
BEST HORROR NOVELS TO HIT BOOKSHELVES IN THE LAST 10 YEARS!!
'The Equinox' is a tour de force of brilliant writing, fast-paced action, and gritty characterisation. 
Get your copy of The Equinox  
Sold in Hardcover and Trade Paperback
Click on the books below for more details

                       

I CAN'T THINK OF A SUITABLE TITLE 

So here goes...

This Christmas I went to see a friend of mine whom I've known since leaving the Army back in 1998. Its funny how time flies, back then I still smoked cigarettes and wasn't packing around the middle aged gut I now sport. I had just started into a new career as a truck driver and somehow  me and this fellow became friends. Actually there was a minor accident involved, but that is another story for another day.

When I published: THE EQUINOX this fellow came out for my book signing and called me a few weeks after he bought the book and said. "I really enjoyed your book Mark," then added. "I didn't think I would, but I did."

When I asked him why, his answer was honest.

"I didn't buy the book because I thought it would be good, I bought it because you wrote it and your a friend. So I thought, even if it's a piece of shit, its Marks book, so I'm going to buy it."

"I remember you telling me, that if it was a shitty book you'd tell me," I replied laughing.

"Well it isn't a shitty book, I was surprised, I was sucked right in. In fact I can't wait for the next one."

We were 3000 kilometres apart when that phone call happened, roughly 1500 miles for my friends to the South. That phone call meant quite a bit, because it came from a friend who wasn't afraid to hurt my feelings. This guy has always been like that, sometimes we'd get into heated discussions because he wasn't afraid to speak his mind, but though we rarely see each other I was always happy to chew the rag over the phone to see how things were going.

It had been a few months since we talked and my wife got a phone message from his lady. I've known her as long as I known him, Actually I knew both of them before they became a couple. They are good for each other, friends, partners, lovers.
The message was short and mysterious: 'Hi Karen, can you give me a call, I need to tell you something.'

My heart sank when I heard this.

My first thought was that he'd suffered a heart attack or been in a wreck, but I placed that call and got news that no parent wants to hear. His youngest son was in palliative care in the final stages of terminal cancer. Having had a few beers and still in the throes of jet lag I wasn't able to get down to the hospital until the next day. We rolled in not long after suppertime and entered a room where the family held vigil for this young man who was no longer conscious, but still fighting. The cancer had spread throughout his body, in his organs, his brain and they had operated after two of the tumors burst. Here was this young man, married only a few years, father of two young kids who sat next to their dad as he was being kept alive on tracheostomy care while they filled him with drugs to manage any pain he might have.

A lump formed in my throat, I looked across at my pal and said. "Jesus Christ man,

I'm so sorry, I don't know what to say."

He smiled. "You don't have to say nothing man. It's not your fault."

I gave him a hug and my wife and I both choked back the tears.

He and his lady went with us into the hall and we talked as other family members moved in and out of the room. His other son showed up with his kids and I thought to myself how sad it was that little children who should be hanging stockings or out playing in the snow should have to stand vigil because their dad who was far too young was finally succumbing to a battle he had fought with cancer over a number of years.

The visit went on for about an hour and a half, not wanting to keep them we excused ourselves and wandered back down to our car. I can't tell you how sad all of this makes me and without asking permission of my friend I can't divulge his name or that of his son, although later on I may update this blog if my friend permits it.

This morning I got a message that this young man finally passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer. While  he died far too young and leaves behind a very young family, I am happy to know that his Dad (my friend) was there with him until the very end.

I would like to encourage everyone to give generously to the Cancer Society as they work to find new treatments and cures for this terrible disease that takes so many lives every year.

May the New Year bring you and yours health and prosperity.

M(Mark) J Preston