Pothole Strategies: Facing Life-Threatening Diseases

By Ennio Vita-Finzi

Like some of the characters in this book, Ennio has defeated prostate cancer and also survived a couple of warning strokes. Now in his mid-eighties, he is using many of the strategies described here in order to fight the onslaught of Parkinson’s disease.

Professionally, Ennio’s eclectic and adventurous attitude helped him to succeed as a multinational executive, senior government official, international consultant, start-up entrepreneur, artist and musician, public speaker, college and university lecturer, columnist and author.

At birth the media described him as an “International Baby” because he was born on a British ship off Australia of Italian-Russian parents. Ennio was educated in Argentina and England and at 20 emigrated to Canada. He then lived in Italy, France, Belgium, Brazil and the USA, eventually returning to Montreal where he now lives happily with Carole, his affectionate and inspiring muse of many years.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Mar 19, 2021
• ISBN: 9781663219459

Ennio Vita-Finzi

Ennio Vita-Finzi was born on a British ship off Australia to Russian-Italian parents. Educated in Argentina, England, and Canada, he has lived and worked in North and South America, Western Europe, and East Asia. Vita-Finzi resides in Montreal, Canada, where he writes, paints, plays the piano, teaches executives, and entertains audiences.

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Copyright © 2021 Ennio Vita-Finzi.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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ISBN: 978-1-6632-1950-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6632-1951-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6632-1945-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021904633

iUniverse rev. date: 03/17/2021

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To Carole -

thank you for your love, constant support

and encouragement for so many years.

Also by this author:

The Opportunity Bus

Please Tell me a Story

Life's Q4

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1    Practicing The Martial Arts Philosophy

Chapter 2    Thinking Like A Chess Master

Chapter 3    A Computer Wizard’s Way

Chapter 4    Shifting Gears Like A Race Car Driver

Chapter 5    The Game Always Turns In The Gambler’s Favour

Chapter 6    The Shadow-Boxer

Chapter 7    Pronounciation Is Vital

Chapter 8    The Hippy Queen

Chapter 9    The Eyes

Chapter 10    The Lonely Barber

Chapter 11    Quality Of Life

POTHOLE STRATEGIES

by Ennio Vita-Finzi

Introduction

I live in a city where potholes are every driver’s daily challenge. With hot summers and very cold and snowy winters, we are told that potholes exist because road surfaces are subjected to extreme temperatures causing changes in the asphalt. City engineers and politicians also tell us that roads may not be able to withstand the constant pressure of thousands of heavy cars and trucks, blaming the problem on previous inept administrations, etc.

However, because defenceless citizens feel that there must be a way to fight these hazards, local newspapers sometimes have competitions encouraging readers to give pet names to their favourite potholes. At other times a number of other media sponsor a Pothole Watch Program, with cash rewards for the deepest pothole found, and so on.

The pothole metaphor

The pothole metaphor came to me when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and underwent a series of radiotherapy sessions for several months. After hitting a couple of real potholes driving to the hospital, my complaints encouraged the attending nurses to share their own pothole experiences while adjusting the appropriate equipment around me. It wasn’t long before my specialist started referring to my prostate cancer as your Cancer Pothole.

Differences

Of course, when we hit a street pothole we slow down and stop at the side of the road if we need to change the tire, or call the Automobile Club for help knowing that we will soon be on our way. If the damage is serious enough, the car is towed away to the junkyard. However, hitting a life-threatening pothole is much more dramatic and we subconsciously fear that we may NOT survive it.

The group

I had to be at the Hospital on a regular basis for treatments and while sitting in the waiting room, I noticed a group of men and women chatting animatedly while waiting for their turn to be called. They seemed very comfortable with each other, sharing opinions and experiences about their individual conditions. On my third or fourth visit, as I waited to be called over the intercom, one of them looked up and beckoned me over with a smile. After introductions and handshakes, each one told me what stage of the therapy they were at and welcomed me to join the group like an old friend.

During the following weeks we met often for our treatments and as people left the group at the end of their therapy sessions, some of us decided to meet once our treatments were over, just to keep our budding friendships