Old Friends, New Friends, Good Friends, True Friends

I've finally finished radiation! Although, according to Dr. I, I've 'hit the peak' of the side effects - explaining the splitting, bleeding skin - it should clear up in a week or so. Beyond some strangely placed freckles, some redness, and the bleeding, I'm just plain tired. However, all of this is easily fixed with some quiet time. Emotionally, I am ecstatic to be finished, and am busy reveling in the huge luxury of two whole weeks without a doctor's appointment.

Speaking of revels, the party this weekend was completely, totally, and utterly wonderful. Zack and I had a thoroughly marvelous time. In my favorite moment, I walked into the back room (the room everyone painted for me at the beginning of this saga) and realized that instead of separating into clusters by type (school friends in one corner, Chicago friends in another), people had moved all the chairs and couches into a big circle and were talking together. That could, of course, have a little to do with the incredible food that people had brought and placed on the coffee tables in that part of the room, but I like to think that such great people just naturally gravitate toward each other.