I SHOULD HAVE STAYED IN BED

The alarm went off at 6 AM this morning – and I seriously considered texting the dentist office, and going back to bed. I was tired, despite turning in early last night to make sure I was alert for the early morning appointment. I hate going to the dentist; I especially hate the painful teeth cleaning process, and the after effects … but I want to keep my own teeth as long as I possibly can, so I bit the bullet and left the house in plenty of time to make the appointment.

It was not enough time.

First, I stopped at the Safeway Gas Station, to replace the gas I burned on my Saturday Daytrip to Mt. St. Helens. The terminals were full, so I sat and waited for 10 minutes before I could gas up.

Holding even for the time being; still irritating to pay nearly $50 for under half a tank of gas.

Then, when I arrived at my destination point (with some time to spare) – the building was fenced off: WTH So, I reached for the phone, called the number I have for the Dentist I use … and was given another address: back across town.

Apparently there had been a fire, and the business is “temporarily relocated” – temporarily, meaning they had been there for a whole year, and I had not been clued in: even though I had spoken to the talking head on the other end of the line for months setting this appointment up >:-P

Needless to say, I was not happy. I am not a morning person; when I have to be out and about early in the day, I want things to unfold smoothly without a lot of frustration.

I punched the new address into the GPS navigator app; and was led a looping chase through Longview that made no sense whatsoever. I finally pulled over, and called the dentist office again, asking for a physical landmark that I could see that would half-ass lead me to where the business was now housed. My ears were steaming and I was valiantly tamping my temper down when the receptionist said, “There really aren’t any landmarks that stand out – all the buildings are nondescript.” My tongue was bleeding as I bit it to keep from biting her head off. Finally, she said, “Look for the Daily News Building; that might help you.” OKAY … I know where that is – and if looks could kill, the Highlander’s GPS app would have been blown to smithereens.

I am not a morning person. I do not want to be dealing with frustrations before I am fully awake.

I finally reached the new locale – half an hour off schedule – walked into the office … and was told that the ‘temporary office situation’ has been divided into a downstairs office, and an upstairs office: “You’ll be seen upstairs: just walk around the building and up 2 flights of stairs – the door is clearly marked.”

((((Two flights of stairs?))))

I am 65 freaking years old, with a heart arrythmia. I turned my ankle on a hike Saturday afternoon – the last thing my healing ankle needed was a workout with 2 flights of stairs! I said, “You gotta be kidding me, right?” She was not kidding; she repeated herself.

It was raining, and there was no stair cover. And to top it off, the stairs were the carpeted see-though design some idiot thought was cute in the 1970’s. I looked at the thread-worn stairs and thought again of canceling the appointment: the need to keep my teeth override that justifiable thought. I hunched into the driving rain and climbed the stairs, praying to God I would not get dizzy and fall down them after the appointment. I have inner ear issues (all my life; docs call it ‘swimmer’s ear syndrome’) that cause vertigo when I look down: ladders and stairs that clearly show the cement platforms between flights … and the sidewalk beyond that, are not friendly aides: they are dizzying.

When I finally climbed the last stair and entered the office, a mask was ceremoniously flung in my direction: and my last nerve was seriously being poked – I flung it back, snapping that I couldn’t wear a mask, especially after climbing two flights of stairs with weak lungs and a misbehaving heartbeat.

I was politely (truth spoken about this exchange) told to wait outside: “Rules are rules; no exceptions.”

Waiting ‘outside' under a plexiglass balconied enclosure; at least I would not get soaked while I cooled my heels.

It would have been nice to have been clued in about the relocation; that would have spared me a lot of unnecessary morning stress.

The morning mood I was in.

Aimless GPS, 26 ct. stairs, & being treated like a maskless leper.

Monday, today, sucked: and it sucked waaay before the dental sucking apparatus was placed in my mouth.

I should have stayed in bed.

Once I was allowed back into the building, I have to admit the person who worked on my teeth behaved like a decent human being, and I relaxed as we joked while she worked. I was told I’d need to come back for two more appointments – I was also told I will need at least one crown replacement, and a back tooth pulled: I nodded my head while $$$$ wove in and out of my unsaid thoughts. Then, I paid my bill; apologized to the woman whose head I earlier bit off in frustration (the woman was forgiving and even graciously – or perhaps in self-defense 😉 – set up my next appointment in the office downstairs: whatever her reason, I am thankful); and mentally prepared myself to deal with the stairs.

Old building in shabby condition & open stairways; amps the vertigo feeling.

I didn’t fall down the stairs. Thank You, attending Guardian Angel 😊

Driving homeward via Nichols Boulevard, lakeside; I noticed a huge limb had broken off an overhanging tree branch and was spilling the street.

Wind shattered tree limb; Nichol's Blvd - lower end.

Carefully skirting around the greenery overflow, the talking head on the radio waves, announced that a flood warning had been issued for the Columbia River areas: Longview is one of those areas. So, I drove out to Willow Grove, to check things out before parking at home.

I also took a look at the Viewing Platform, newly built at the Park, there.

Flood Warnings for Columbia River: https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Forecasters-issue-flood-watch-for-Columbia-River-17237735.php

I'm not seeing a clear and present 'flood danger!'

Obviously, the waterline was higher yesterday; close to the trail I walk, here.

Viewing Area completed, at Willow Grove Park.

Columbia River Commerce Plaque.

Columbia River route to the Pacific Ocean Plaque.

Columbia River lapping hungrily at Willow Grove beachfront.

By then, the Novocaine had worn off and my numbed teeth nerves were coming alive with a vengeance – my lip was also smarting; it was swollen and hurting more than the torturing teeth cleaning I had undergone for two hours.

Swollen, very sore lip.

Very raw; very s.o.r.e.; it will be further irritated Friday morning. OUCH!

I was also fighting nausea – a side effect of the Novocaine shots (I had had 5 of them – two along the bottom teeth, and three along the upper teeth).

Novocaine injections feel like liquid fire when injected into my mouth, and I’m nauseous (sometimes I have vomit come up in the back of my throat – d.i.s.g.u.s.t.i.n.g.) for about 24 hours. I am told this reaction is rare … I don’t know about that; all I know is what happens to me.

I’m going to do nothing more tonight, except flop into Bob’s recliner; and mindlessly vegetate the rest of the evening, willing the pain and nausea away.

I should have stayed in bed this morning …

I go back again Friday, for more oral torture ;-)