35

I always thought 30 was the magical age when life started to go downhill.  Afterall, it was right around that time my metabolism decided to take a vacation and never return.  But then 31 came, then 32.  And now, I find my self at a ripe age of 35.  Technically, I'm middle-aged, right?  However, I still (most of the time) feel like I'm in my 20s (minus the metabolism thing, of course).

Last week, I went to get a yearly physical, which meant I had to get my yearly, well, you know...  I also had to get a flu shot and a tetanus shot.  Why a tetanus shot?  Because, unbenownst to me, you need one every ten years and I hadn't had one since I went to college in 1993.

Anyway... I digress.

So yeah, I had my physical.  My other yearly test (ahem).  Then the doctor asks me if I'd had my baseline mammogram yet.  I am 35, afterall, she says.  I responded that I hadn't and she sent me to a radiologist for the exam.

I went today.

Okay, so what can I say about it?  Weird.  WEIRD.  I keep saying to myself, "you've had a c-section!  What could be worse than a c-section?"  But I think this might be right up there.  See, when I had the c-section, I had one goal in mind:  to see my baby.  Plus, I was all numb (well, after the awful feeling of the spinal tap) and didn't feel any pain until well into the next day after delivery.

Anyway, I had my test today.  And those that know me know that I am pretty well-endowed, to say the least, so of course, that makes the exam a little more challenging.  The entire process made me feel very vulnerable, very out of control, and incredibly self-conscience.  Plus, the entire room was outfitted with pink reminders of why I was there today.  It was daunting.

The entire time I was in that exam room, I kept thinking about a very good friend of mine, also 35, who recently discovered a lump in her breast.  When she had it checked out, it was a lot more than just a little lump and she's gone a very aggressive route with her treatment.  At this point in her journey, she is halfway through her first treatment and following that, will head into a second treatment of radiation.  I think about her everyday, pray with all my might for her, her husband, and her amazing two daughters who need her to fight and stay strong and positive throughout this ordeal.

It will take a few days to get the official results of my test, but the technician said she couldn't see anything that jumped out at her immediately.  For now, I'll take that as good news and hope that I won't have to do it again for another five years.