We left twenty minutes later than I had planned this morning. You'd think after nearly 14 years of marriage and 13 years of parenthood that it would sink in that it always takes me longer to get the five of us out the door than I think it will. You'd think, after all this time, I'd prepare for that fact and not race around at the last minute like I've misplaced my head. But no. That would make life far too simple . . .
It turned out okay, though. We met Joellen at Fred Meyers. I dashed off to grab donuts, she bought coffee, and Mark popped across the highway to get gas. Then we were off. We got there early and were ushered right back, since we had the first appointment of the day. I felt kind of silly, though, once we got back there. See, we're used to having all of Mark's medical care through Providence. OHSU is not a Providence facility, however. They can't just pull up Mark's records from Newberg ER and take a peek. We have to bring them with us when we go up there. Both of us had completely forgotten about that so the doc really didn't have a whole lot to go on except our explanation of things, when what he really needed was test results, etc. So we'll have to wait for those to get transferred up, etc. But the doctor didn't seem too terribly worried. They set Mark up with a portable cardiac monitor that he's going to keep for a month, since he's been having irregular rhythms sometimes when he lays down. Also, he's been feeling what he describes as "vibrations" in his liver area, which the doc thinks might actually be arrhythmias. (It's interesting to me how sensations in our bodies can actually originate somewhere besides where we end up feeling them.) So I guess ... one day at a time? The doc's calm was reassuring, I must say.
The trip from there to Multnomah Falls only took about a half an hour. Mark drove because I was struggling to stay awake. Then Joellen and I hiked up to the bridge with the boys while Mark and Kaitlyn stayed down below. It's not far. Only 2/10 of a mile, so I'm not sure I can really even climb it as a hike! I remember it as being farther than that. But it was probably about the right distance for the boys. Since I was feeling so awful, I didn't mind cutting it short either.
I did get some good pictures, though! That place is just gorgeous. I remember when Kaitlyn was little, we used to be able to get right up by the falls. After that school bus sized boulder fell off the top of the cliff several years back, they don't let people that close anymore. I suppose that's good. Personally, I don't feel any need to know first hand what it feels like to be under a two ton boulder! But it was so ... I almost said "neat." What writer in their right mind uses the word "neat"? Let's see. It was more of a tactile experience to get right up to the water. (How's that? Better?) But still, it's pretty incredible to see (and feel) from the bridge.
On our way back down, Joellen and I talked about wanting/hoping to come back sometime this summer without small children. We'd like to take the whole hike, to the top. I just might see what I can do about making that happen. Anybody want to join us?
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