Here we go -- Day 1

Well the first day has come and gone. I think getting past the anticipation was a very good thing. The whole family has gone through a little bit of a build up to this whole "treatment" thing and now that it is underway the whole thing can be normalized. There was definite sadness on all sides with parting (filled with a healthy dose of vulnerability) but it will certainly be a growing experience. We will all be stronger for it by the end. It is these little experiences in life that makes one take stock of how lucky one is. I have so much wealth in my life and I am not taking it for granted right now.
So the first day was a little busy ... packing, dropping kids off at school (with a little added emotion), a rain drenched ferry ride and then making it to the appointment. Mo was a star and came with me for some moral support. It was lovely to have his calming presence with me. A little like having Peter Sellers from "Being There" at my side. What a wonderful man!
The appointment involved some very skilled medical practitioners, picking up on all the cues that I was new to this whole thing, showing me the ropes and showing lots of compassion. There was a lengthy period of adjusting equipment and making sure that the radiation target zone would be accurate. Then we finally got on with it... In a matter of 15 to 20 minutes I had the radiation treatments. I was pinned down to a high tech looking bed with this Darth Vader mask that kept me very immobilized. It was definitely very claustrophobic but I simply did some good visualizations -- some how Slocan Lake always seems like a good place to visit in those stressful moments. The radiation is much like having X-rays... That said I did feel a little weird for the rest of the evening. I never really worked out if it was the emotion behind the whole experience or the radiation itself. I came home to the warmth of Cam and Cristina's home and pretty much crashed like a log. Sleep was the best thing for me to cope with day one.
Speak soon