Nerves

Three or four months ago my regular biannual dental cleaning was cancelled because some teenagers broke into the Blackstone water supply (you may have heard about that in the news).

Perhaps I should quickly remind you that I have something of a dental phobia.

The next available appointment was in August sometime. But they put me on a wait-list, too. So every so often, they call me when there has been a cancellation.

Since I work in Boston, and the dentist is near my home, I usually can't make it. But this morning Teri called me. The dentist's office had called her, and they had an opening for 8 AM tomorrow morning.

Saturday is normally Teri's morning to sleep in, but she told me she'd watch Sebastian while I had the cleaning done.

I got scared, and told her that I was too nervous to go, so I'd just wait for the August appointment. Teri was a little disappointed in me, I think - understandably - but said it was okay.

I spent the next forty-five minutes feeling sick to my stomach and wrestling with my fear.

Finally I screwed up my courage, called Teri back, and asked her if she really wouldn't mind watching Sebastian...because I might as well go get my teeth cleaned. She said she wouldn't mind, of course. So I called the dentist's office to confirm.

You probably guessed it: the appointment had been taken by someone else in the meantime.

Incidentally, I'm not afraid of the cleaning. I'm afraid that they'll find that I need root canals.

Nerves

Three or four months ago my regular biannual dental cleaning was cancelled because some teenagers broke into the Blackstone water supply (you may have heard about that in the news).

Perhaps I should quickly remind you that I have something of a dental phobia.

The next available appointment was in August sometime. But they put me on a wait-list, too. So every so often, they call me when there has been a cancellation.

Since I work in Boston, and the dentist is near my home, I usually can't make it. But this morning Teri called me. The dentist's office had called her, and they had an opening for 8 AM tomorrow morning.

Saturday is normally Teri's morning to sleep in, but she told me she'd watch Sebastian while I had the cleaning done.

I got scared, and told her that I was too nervous to go, so I'd just wait for the August appointment. Teri was a little disappointed in me, I think - understandably - but said it was okay.

I spent the next forty-five minutes feeling sick to my stomach and wrestling with my fear.

Finally I screwed up my courage, called Teri back, and asked her if she really wouldn't mind watching Sebastian...because I might as well go get my teeth cleaned. She said she wouldn't mind, of course. So I called the dentist's office to confirm.

You probably guessed it: the appointment had been taken by someone else in the meantime.

Incidentally, I'm not afraid of the cleaning. I'm afraid that they'll find that I need root canals.