Midnight Ride

RICH'S NEWS FROM CAMP WEBEGONE

There are moments that standout as markers in time. My most recent marker occurred on August 1st. A midnight ride to Medford.

This event has changed my mindset about going to Medford. From Portland it seemed like a long trip, but gradually it is becoming mentally more accessible. Riding down in Cheryl's car rather than the truck also makes a difference. I guess old age makes some of these comforts more meaningful.

So, around 1am Cheryl helps me figure out that the pain I am having needs medical attention. She drives me to Providence Hospital Emergency Room in Medford, which is quite un-busy at 2:30am. Having consulted the book Where There Is No Doctor, I already figured I knew what was happening. By 5am, after a CAT scan and blood work, it was confirmed. I have kidney stones, painful ones (to make an understatement). 

They are not so big, so Ultrasound is not required to break them up. The hospital allows us to sleep for a couple hours, as no pharmacies are open to give me the drugs. Ah yes, and the next step is the nausea from the drugs, which I rapidly discontinue as Advil dulls the pain enough to get me through the next 24 hours or so. 

This placed us back in the trailer for two weeks. Trailer as infirmary again. It has been a great place for healing.

It is now 18 days later, and I am feeling energetic again. I am well and healthy and today we biked up for the first time for a Cinnamon roll at Beckys Cafe. Oh, it is such a hard life. Now when do we get to eat the huckleberrys we picked today! Just 18 days after the midnight ride.

Rich