Moments Of Consequence | #MakeAMemory

Memories are moments of consequence. – Unknown

In 2005, Alice Guess agreed to visit the Columbia Gorge with me. It was my first trip to the land of Lewis and Clark, my first sighting of their final waterway to another sea. We got wet at Multnomah Falls on the Oregon side, and we entered Washington via the Bridge of the Gods. At a random interpretive center, we chanted ‘MAGMA’ through a 1970s movie about the Gorge’s formation, and we shared a cabin, its charm a worn patina.

I never knew I’d write about Meriwether Lewis. I was focused on making memories with my friend.

On a recent visit to the Pacific Northwest, I retraced our steps, stayed in the same cabin, and gawked at timeless scenery. Cheryl Strayed made the Bridge of the Gods famous, but I never knew its ancient provenance.

For hundreds of years, Native Americans ambled across a land bridge in that very spot, a place they called the Bridge of the Gods. When flooding erased the crossing, modern man constructed a bridge and commandeered the ancient name. A drive between its steel girders is akin to time travel. I can almost hear the footsteps of the multitudes who crossed there.

I know I glimpsed a younger version of Alice and me, cackling the word ‘MAGMA’ over and over again through a few moments of consequence. My first trip to Columbia Gorge altered my life’s trajectory. My recent visit confirmed its path. Like Meriwether Lewis, I may not discover an unfettered path to where I’m headed, but I know I’ll get there anyway. We draw from our moments of consequence to bolster our spirits, to stay the course, to find the strength to believe again.

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This is part of a series of pictures about making memories. If you liked the story why not share it with your friends? Let’s meet on Facebook or Twitter. If you prefer pictures you will surely like my Instagram. I’ve collected inspirational things and more on Pinterest! Any comments? Write them below!