“She was right. You sure can lie perfectly still.”

Campers,

Normally, when a woman says that to you it’s not a compliment.

Yesterday, it was.

I got a brain scan MRI and it lasted for an hour and I’d had two other MRI’s and by this time I’m making a Game Plan and Practicing !!

An hour is a long time to lie still.

Ask any good sniper.

Or, someone hiding from the Secret Police.

Or, their Spouse.

Anyway, I’m a Volunteer Control List Patient for a study of Viet Nam Vets with Traumatic Brain Injuries and it includes at least this one session but I’d imagine another in the 4th quarterly visit next Halloween ?

First MRI I don’t remember being aware that the session would last for a half hour or that it would be like being in a tiny submarine being depth-charged by a Punk Noise Band from Hell.

Second, I was readier but it was less than half hour.

Now, I was forewarned that it would be an hour and I finally made a Plan First.

I planned to count to 60 sixty times in a Row.

I often count the click downs on traffic lights to determine if I can make it before it turns red.

So, in my own estimation, I can judge seconds.

I practiced it the day before and the day of the procedure on my daily walk and it takes about ten minutes to get from 14th and Valencia to 18th and Dolores.

Whatever, it worked great for the actual MRI yesterday.

In fact, I got lost several times in counting on my fingers to get to ten minutes (one with pulse thingee on finger fucks up counting) and always went back to previous minute and I was at thirty minutes when a voice came into the tube and said:

“That’s 45 minutes and now we’ll do the part with your eyes open.”

No, don’t go there.

So, I went back to counting down from 15 and came out a hero.

So, that’s my secret on how to prepare for an MRI  …

Now, if I can only remember the Plan next year for the next one.

Go Niners  !!