Memorial Day

I failed to publish this post on the day I wrote it, Memorial Day, so the order of this and Burning Woman are inverse.

I am eight sessions in, of thirty-three, with the radiation therapy process, and so far so good.  Each weekday morning I am greeted by the A-Team (Amanda, Arline & Adrian) at the Texas Oncology Radiation ward, where they have me lie down on a sheet spread on the gurney which is placed atop the special mold made at the onset of this process a few weeks ago.  They move me into place by adjusting the sheet underneath me, calling out numbers to one another as they align me with the machine and markings on my body.  Once in place they leave the room and go to a separate one with monitors to watch over the targeted radiation process.

I consider it my six week, daily meditation routine, so at this point I close my eyes and begin a Dr. Zhang meditation/visualization exercise, envisioning myself in a pleasant nature setting, albeit with music (always a different station/genre from the speakers in the treatment room) in the background and intermittent clicks and whines of the radiation machine as it moves over and around me for this less-than-ten minute process.  

Friday I was relaxing to the comforting sounds of the eighties, with Madonna singing Lucky Star, remembering to breathe normally, as the day before the process had to be stopped for a few minutes. They came back in to reposition me, as something was throwing things “off”, whatever they see on those monitors, when Arline asked, “Are you holding your breath?”  Indeed, I was breathing as deeply as possible, holding a few counts, and releasing slowly, as per my mediation exercise…so now I breathe normally and save the deep breathing for a time off of the radiation table.

This morning we all got the day off, and though I will work some this day, I am spending my meditation time extending gratitude for the special souls who’ve given their lives for the greater good of all, and to all those who’ve lived their lives and now rest in the great beyond.  

I am especially mindful of three very sweet souls today, who recently made the crossing of the rainbow bridge: Willie, Cassie and Otto.  I’m saddened at the loss of these wonderful animals, and wishing great comfort to their families.

Peace and love to all.