Stockholm, November 26th, 2019

Dear Logbook, 9th day of the fourth and last trip.

Yesterday was a day full of emotions. It was the end of having to embark on the KS ship to receive those potions on the high seas (chemotherapy sessions). There I said goodbye to the team and especially Jessica, a young nurse who has made 12 of the 16 voyages at sea have been easier. Super professional but with that paste that may have all the medical staff, but of course, those who work in oncology, who stop a few seconds to hear you knowing that they have many people to attend. Thanks Jessica, thanks for making it easier to have to be there connected to machines receiving those potions.

In the afternoon it ended as I told you. Nothing new.

Today as I say, a “new stage” begins, in essence as you can read my Diary, I continue on my ninth day of my fourth and last trip, which means that this chemo cycle is still going on, because the twenty-first day will end. I only have magic potions left in the form of pills, this week with Prednisone, my 75 mg/day until Sunday. Of the rest of potions, because four more days of my “dear/hated” G-CSF injections that accompanied them from Oxycodone to avoid returning to the boat in a special carriage. And of the Bactrim and Valacyklovir tablets. The first for three months since the end of this trip, and the second only one month. In January with the consultation if there is any change, Captain Palma will tell me.

It has not yet dawned, but as yesterday, clouds and maybe some rain, but little. Having left the little little sailors at school, I went for a walk, to at least remain active, but somewhat short, it was about 6. km. I have gone from home bordering Lake Mälaren, to the island of Längholmen. But I will not go around, it would be 600-1000 m more, this week a little. And if Thursday the hemoglobin is fine, I will return to my walks of 10-14 kilometers.

After the ride, time to get into foreign languages mode. Take back Swedish and English studies. And as Tuesday, it is time to do laundry, prepare the and continue with something that allows me to fill in every day. Well, this expedition is not over yet, we are on the right line, but there is still the TAC test on December 18^th and then the consultation with the Captain to tell us how everything is and whether or not we go to review. Or if more tests are needed. But the Island is closer every day. Speaking of the Island, here I copy the poem “Ithaka”, A POEM OF KONSTANTINO KAVAFIS. My uncle Alberto has passed it to me. And I found it very beautiful.

Hope your road is a long one.

May there be many summer mornings when,

with what pleasure, what joy,

you enter harbors you’re seeing for the first time;

may you stop at Phoenician trading stations

to buy fine things,

mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,

sensual perfume of every kind—

as many sensual perfumes as you can;

and may you visit many Egyptian cities

to learn and go on learning from their scholars.

Keep Ithaka always in your mind.

Arriving there is what you’re destined for.

But don’t hurry the journey at all.

Better if it lasts for years,

so you’re old by the time you reach the island,

wealthy with all you’ve gained on the way,

not expecting Ithaka to make you rich.

Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey.

Without her you wouldn’t have set out.

She has nothing left to give you now.

And if you find her poor, Ithaka won’t have fooled you.

Wise as you will have become, so full of experience,

you’ll have understood by then what these Ithakas mean.

Translated by Edmund Keely. Source: C.P. Cavafy: Collected Poems (Princeton University Press, 1975)

And my dear Diary there will be something to tell you tomorrow.