Adobe’s San Jose towers may never have looked better than they did this morning as I made my way from Diridon Station (after an amazing 26-minute ride on a Caltrain ‘baby bullet’ – quicker than driving by an easy 15 minutes) across the Guadalupe River and through McEnery Park to Adobe’s ‘back door.’ This has been my goal, virtually since the seizure and ambulance ride on October 9 made me aware that I have a brain tumor.

Since then I’ve been to UCSF’s world class neuro-oncology departments where I’ve had a craniotomy and ‘open’ biopsy, and a diagnosis of an inoperable glioma situated very near the motor strip in my right cerebral cortex, and seen the MSI/MRI map of the peanut sized area that controls my left side, all but surrounded by the glioma.

Radiation therapy began almost before I was out of the ICU, and quickly adjusted when plan 1 wasn’t optimal: chemo started the day the head was judged healed and we’re already into an even more aggressive round 2. Lots of water under the proverbial bridge, including, a first for me, 2 months out of work on medical disability.

The entire time – during 6 weeks daily commutes on Caltrain and the N Judah to UCSF for the radiation therapy – I have worn an Adobe cap reminding me of the goal we acheived today (dressed, of course, in just that chapeau). Dear spouse Linda, the major reason I’ve made it this far, was (rare for her) sick this AM, but was doggedly determined to get me to the train on time.

It was a busy warm, fun short first day: checking in with good boss Rick Brown, who had a warm smile, a kind welcome and a list of open issues (bring’em on) and who sent a couple of ‘and one more thing…’ emails. There were warm greetings, hugs and kissess, there were people dropping in (that’s dear friends and colleagues Bahman and Steve pictured), a check-in with HR, and somehow, in the midst of all, I managed to nearly clear the office of old papers, notes, ancient software, out-of-date books and other office cruft. We’re ready…

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