Oh so very close . . . and a call to refocus on what really counts.

At this point, I have now completed six weeks (30 sessions) of radiation treatments.


There really isn't much more to say about it quite frankly. It's just become part of a daily routine that will thankfully be ending in a couple of weeks.  There's really no pain involved that's directly related to the radiation - just some resulting side effects that should all clear up in the weeks following my treatment.


The only disappointing part is that I was hoping to be able to at least have 4 or 5 days of my vacation to spend time with Janet and the boys. I originally expected the last treatment to be on Wednesday, Aug. 4th during my week off from work for "vacation", but now my final treatment is scheduled for Friday, Aug 6th. - meaning that each day of my vacation time will include a near 4-hour door-to-door round trip into the city - and about two hours of hanging around the hospital.


Don't get the wrong impression.  I am fully aware that there are much worse things than what I have been dealing with  - a fact brought to light very harshly by the news this weekend of a good friends' brother being mowed down by a car while walking across the street; and by the news that the mother of one of my sons' friends suffering a stoke/heart attack and then during treatment the doctors discovered the woman has extremely advanced cancer. But, if I've learned nothing else from this experience, it is the reminder of precious and short our time with our families and friends truly is.


Our careers and jobs should be the manner by which we are able to provide food, clothes and a roof over our heads, and the means to be enjoy the people closest to us, and more importantly to help others less fortunate than we are.  We who spend 70 and 80 hours a week working are missing out are what is most important in our lives.  And those who demand these hours from us, they too need to reevaluate priorities. Much of what we toil over in our jobs is for the here and now. Something that in many cases in the bigger picture, is nothing more than vapor.


The employees that work so diligently to make a business successful need to be allowed the opportunity to make their personal lives just as successful - actually, more.  Weeknights spent working until the wee hours, or even working at home, weekends recovering from hellish pressure filled work day, and maybe two weeks off for vacation each year isn't nearly enough. Otherwise, what's the real point of it all?


Look at your kids,  your husbands, your wives . . . .  is all that comes to mind memories of time gone by?  What about the time you have right now? It all passes by in a relative "blink", and it can be interrupted, or taken away, even faster. Sometimes tomorrow is far too late, or is never given the chance to come around.