Jim Wylie passes

The Big-C strikes again: Jim Wylie passed away last night.

I'm pissed. It was beginning to look like Jim was going to be an exception to my thesis "the cure is worse than the disease." When diagnosed with lung cancer a few months ago, he faced it head on with high spirits, determined to beat it. Surgery went well. Then chemo. He hated it -- but figured it was worth it. But it didn't get far along when complications from chemo resulted, back in the hospital -- and a quick ending.

So the cure is worse than the disease once again. I know that many, many folks beat cancer. I just haven't known any. Every single person I've cared about who faces the Big-C ends up the worse for treatment, not better. Perhaps because it's so far along when diagnosed. At any rate, Jim joins Dick and Ger, victims of the Big-C, finding the cure worse than the disease.

Ironically, he is featured in the new Oregon Literary Review, which is being released today. Find him here.

A good memory: Oklahoma Hills, performed by Wylie and yours truly (mp3) (Wylie = guitar solo & harmony).

And here is pure Wylie on one of his own: The Pinto Song.