There and Back Again
It is the eve of my first chemotherapy session and there are a number of things running through my mind that I want to share with you dear reader:
For one, I have gone there (Washington D.C.) and am back again (in Arcadia) and had a wonderful trip. It was so enjoyable connecting with fellow science communicators and an honor to take the stage at National Geographic. One of my favorite aspects of the whole experience was seeing individuals really grow over a period of just a few days and truly excel in their particular communication style. The video of my talk is now online here and my deepest desire is that what I conveyed was hope and encouragement. While my talk was certainly about science, regeneration, and sea urchins, the real goal was hope and the concept of not simply accepting circumstances or trials but realizing that there is always a choice in perspective.
Getting to connect with old friends on the East Coast was a highlight as well; it always such a pleasant surprise when time passes and friendships are just as natural as when you first started them.
Ethan and Sierra are friends from a research program one summer in Woods Hole, Massachusetts and it was absolutely lovely to get see them. A final note about D.C. – the museums are fantastic and the National Museum of Natural History was pretty much a dream come true. From basking in glory which was the Ocean Hall to seeing the depth of consideration curators put into exhibits, it was an inspiring experience.
A completely different topic, tomorrow is inherently scary. I have no idea how my body will react to the chemotherapy, but instead of walking away and cowering in fear I want to take this opportunity to partner together. When I start my first round of chemo at around 10:45am (PST) if you feel led, I’d love to have your prayers and thoughts. Trusting in hope can be scary, but I am confident it’s the right move!
Finally, if you caught the reference in the title of this entry you would have recognized it from Lord of the Rings. One of favorite moments from the movies comes at the end of the Two Towers when things are looking pretty bleak for our heroes, and Samwise Gamgee shares this:
“It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something.”
And appropriate thought for tomorrow, I have something to hold onto and I hope you do as well.