Last year, I completed a rite of passage. Most of my friends that are my age had accomplished this rite of passage at least ten years ago.

What was the rite of passage?

I had my first colonoscopy.

My friends teased me that I hadn’t had one yet. My previous doctor didn’t think I was high risk and didn’t need the test. And I was happy enough not to go through the process.

My imagination didn’t paint an appealing picture. And then I saw Billy Connolly’s description of his colonoscopy. I was happy enough to forgo that procedure.

But my current doctor thought I should have one. Especially since I was sixty and never had one before.

It was with a bit of trepidation that I started the preparations. Mercifully, they weren’t as “rigourous” as anticipated.

And the actual procedure was over before I knew it. Literally.

After getting into my gown and getting prepped, I was wheeled into this room. The anesthetist introduced himself. He told me that I would feel a cold rush as the anesthetic went into my blood stream. And then I would fall asleep within a few seconds.

I closed my eyes. I took some deep breaths to get into a meditative state. To help with going under.

And I waited.

And waited.

I didn’t feel anything cold. I didn’t even feel sleepy. I kept my eyes closed.

But I hoped that they would ask me if I was still awake before they stuck the camera in.

I was getting nervous. I did not want to be awake for the procedure!

I could hear voices and I thought that was weird. How many people are in this room? Do they do multiple colonoscopies at the same time? I knew they did a lot in succession, but were they actually at the same time?

The nurse asked me how I was.

“I haven’t fallen asleep yet!” I blurted. “Did they give me the anesthesia?”

“You’ve already had the procedure,” the nurse replied. “You’re in the recovery room.”

I opened my eyes. Sure enough, I was back in the room where I started.

That anesthesia worked fast. I didn’t even get to count backwards from a hundred like in the movies. I was just out.

One rite of passage completed. And I don’t have to worry about another one for ten years.

P.S. If you haven’t seen Billy Connolly’s description of his colonoscopy, you can check it out here.