General Grant

Dearest Alessandra,

I read your most recent post with a lump in my throat, not only because I feel for you so deeply but because I am so proud of your fighting spirit.

I like to read about American history, and one of my favorite figures is Ulysses Grant. Grant was a nobody before the Civil War, but he rose to become the commanding general of all of the Union armies and won the war. He went on to serve two terms as president and today he is on the 50 dollar bill.

Grant was successful because he was so much more aggressive than the other generals. When other people didn’t believe that something was possible, he went ahead. In one of his first battles he had the enemy’s fort surrounded. The enemy general sent a messenger out in the middle of the night to find out what terms Grant wanted for surrender. Grant became famous for the reply he sent back: “no other terms than immediate and unconditional surrender”.

That is what I hear you saying to your cancer. You are not willing to discuss terms with your cancer. No compromises or temporary cessation of hostilities. You demand that it surrender to your will and your spirit, that it clear your system and get the hell out of your life.

Grant was not a talkative man, but he had a knack for quotables. Later in the war he was engaged in horrible fighting in Virginia in what turned out to be the closing stages of the war. Everyone expected him to give up and turn back in the face of the resistance he met with, but Grant sent a short telegram back to President Lincoln. It read: “I propose to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer.” Later, he sent a one line message back to the president: “no matter what, there will be no turning back”. Lincoln was so inspired that he kissed the messenger. You won’t turn back, and you will hold your line all summer long.

I’ll leave you with one more thought from General Grant. He tended to win battles because he held on longer, he went on past the time when others would call it quits. Other generals wanted to retreat, but he insisted on carrying on. He later explained it like this: “In every battle there comes a time when both sides consider themselves beaten. Then, he who continues the attack wins.” You are not beaten, and as you continue on past the point when others might not you will find victory.

All of my love,

Joe