There is a big old sea bell hanging in the hall of the St.Francis Radiation treatment center. You get to ring it when you finish your last day of radiation treatment.
I rang it today. Loud and long. Not that I have anything against the modern miracle that is microwaving a section of the human insides in order to expedite the exit of cancer from ones body. But I am also not going to miss my friend, Linear Accelerator, either.
They give you you a little diploma that is signed by all the technicians who have worked with you over the course of your treatment. It’s cute. I’m sure it will become more cute as time passes and the nasty side effects of treatment wear off over time. Radiological Oncologist thinks it could take two or three weeks for the fatigue and pain to wear off. Still, it’s a really cute thing to do. You know? The could have just shaken my hand and said — “Hope this don’t kill you before the cancer does.” Sometimes it felt that way, from the treatment not from the people.
There’s a short little check in my friends. Just a little something to say I feel like celebrating tonight.
Tate
Greg Tate Updates 
#1 by Andrea Scharff on March 27, 2012 - 9:25 pm
Every note you write inspires me! As long as you find the bits of amazing in the vast difficult, I think you can conquer all. Ring that bell Greg! – Andrea
#2 by Amy Clifton on March 27, 2012 - 9:31 pm
Good news, Tate! Thinking of you….
#3 by jean Molodetz on March 27, 2012 - 10:13 pm
BooYa!
#4 by Mari on March 27, 2012 - 10:23 pm
Wow Greg that is amazing, I know it has been hard, and painful, and tiring, but you did it. I think you have “slapped that rascal” for sure. We love you Tate.
#5 by Anonymous on March 27, 2012 - 10:42 pm
I thought I heard a bell ringing today! WhooHoo Hugs ~
#6 by Dena on March 27, 2012 - 10:56 pm
Looking forward to celebrating with you on Monday!
#7 by Martin on March 27, 2012 - 11:13 pm
“It’s the bell of freedom” Big Hugs Greg. I could hear it clear across the nation.
#8 by Bonnie on March 28, 2012 - 1:29 am
YEE HAAH!!!! Very nice, very good to hear. Yea, funny ain’t it, with cancer the treatment is really counterintuitive — makes ya feel ALOT worse to help ya get better. We will celebrate again in May!
#9 by pamela.o.bates@gmail.com Bates on March 28, 2012 - 1:32 am
Now every time a bell rings, i will know it’s not about an angel getting her wings. It’s a person finishing radiation. I like it!
#10 by Matt on March 28, 2012 - 1:34 am
It must be wonderful to have that behind you! Congratulations, Graduate!
Love, Matt
#11 by Anonymous on March 28, 2012 - 1:40 am
wooo hooo
#12 by Velina Brown on March 28, 2012 - 1:47 am
Whew! Glad to hear the radiation is completed. All the best Greg! Celebrate.
#13 by Eliot Nerenberg and Amy Jaffe on March 28, 2012 - 1:50 am
Celebrate celebrate and dance to the music!!!
one step on the way to recovery over and done with!!!
rest , relax and recoup
thinking of you
Amy and Eliot
#14 by JoAnne Bauer on March 28, 2012 - 2:27 am
Happy Celebration!
#15 by Anonymous on March 28, 2012 - 2:33 am
Hi Greg
Good for you & congratulations I thought I heard a bell today. Celebrate. Many hugs
#16 by susan and jay on March 28, 2012 - 3:04 am
A rite of passage — to something better! Keep it up, Greg.
#17 by Jennifer scholte on March 28, 2012 - 10:56 am
Congratulations!
#18 by Elvy Stepinoff on March 28, 2012 - 11:21 am
So very glad the treatment is over………it WILL take at least a couple of weeks and more to start feeling stronger again, so give yourself a little vacation and take it easy and enjoy the spring w/o those daily trips to St. Francis………….Love ya
#19 by Anonymous on March 28, 2012 - 1:10 pm
Thanks for writing this, man. You’re a brave cool guy.
Almost Passover here, Easter for you–renewal. We’ll have some of the kids here for the Sedar (who knows, maybe you’ll join us next year: “Next year in Jerusalem”, says the text. The others will be taking care of our new granddaughter,
Noya, 6 days old. (She has 3 big brothers!)…keep hanging in, as you do: I like the British expression, muddling through: just doing the best each day. They say that’s how they got through the London bombing in WWII.
#20 by Nina on March 28, 2012 - 7:35 pm
RING that bell! What a lovely tradition. Very poetic for a medical facility, or maybe it’s you who found the poetry in it. Congratulations on finishing radiation, and on keeping your spirits so high.
Nina
#21 by Dan Grunfeld on March 30, 2012 - 12:17 am
Remember, any graduation requires a ceremonial walk. So throw on some loose-fitting robes, blare Pomp and Circumstance from a boombox, and tell Tessa she has to shake your hand, with gravitas, every time you cross paths. Happy graduation!
#22 by Allie Rosenblatt on April 1, 2012 - 7:06 pm
Yay! What a hump to get over! We are giving you a virtual hug and a pat on the back. Love ya!-
-Allie