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 

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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