I took my youngest son in yesterday to have an MRI of the lump on the back of his neck. In his sweet innocence, he was actually excited for it. So, when they put him on the long table with an IV port in his arm and padding all around his head and a plastic frame over his face, he was ready for adventure. They finished him up with earplugs and blankets for both of us, then slowly slid him into the giant metal tube--"It's like your going into a cool spaceship," they told him. Yeah, an alien spaceship.
We both jumped when the first unexpectedly loud whirring and banging sounds began. Do you know what it's like to tell a 9-year-old boy to hold completely still for 15 minutes, even without sudden loud noises? That's like telling atoms in a nuclear reaction to sit quietly for a second so nothing gets broken. Well, fortunately I guess, my son loves rules, so, he actually lay there perfectly still the whole time. The second round was a little more difficult since his head started to hurt. And with all that banging and whirring and thumping and whatever else aliens do to scan your brain and figure out a way to take over your planet, it isn't surprising he wanted so much to squeeze the emergency button and scream, "Get me out of here, now!" But he didn't. He stuck it out. He tried as hard as he could, and he did it.
"That was by far the worst thing I have ever done," he said. "I can't believe I was actually excited for that. Why didn't you tell me?"
Good question. Well, I guess partly I didn't realize it would be so bad, and partly I didn't want to scare him. I suppose it's one of those things like serving a mission or having a baby--it seems so exciting at first, but if someone could tell you how hard and scary it's really going to be, you wouldn't do it. And it's something you have to do and is completely worth it in the end.
Same with the MRI. The test came back clear. Nothing to worry about. What a relief! Of course, for my little son who has always wanted to be a space scientist and astronaut, this whole alien space ship experience may change his mind. But, then again, maybe it will be like having a baby--after a while you forget about the pain and fear and actually, purposely, go back for more!
