Hopefully this is the last post about my teeth. After going several days of walking around feeling like my crown was going to fall out, I got on the G1 and went to Hono last Monday night. Touched down about 4am and got to the bunkhouse where we stay while in town at around 5am. Thank goodness they changed my dentist appointment from 7am to 9:20 am. Hitched a ride in to the office with John, a guy who's going to volunteer out at Laysan Island for 4 months. Then had to hitch a ride to the appointment 'cause someone needed the truck. When the dentist pulls off the crown, he makes one of those noises any patient hates to hear, a sharp intake of breath. Turns out the tooth is shattered under the crown and there's only a stub left. Shit..... He builds it back up, does all the stuff you have to do to get a crown made and sends me on my way. Thursday afternoon I go in and they put it in. I'm grateful to him for getting me in and taking care of it so fast. I'm grateful to my Moab dentist for covering the cost. I'm pissed at myself for having a crown put on in the first place. How did this all come about? Back in second grade, just when my front tooth was coming in, I g0t it shoved back up into my gums by colliding with a kids head. I snuck up on him playing some kid game and just as I was about to grab him, he turned around and started running. Smack! When the tooth grew back out, it was crooked. In 5th grade, Bryan Freeman was rearing back to throw a rock just as I was bending down and rock and tooth collided. Now the tooth was crooked AND had a corner missing. Sigh....Over the years we kept trying to put a fake corner on it, but it would never stay because I always cracked sunflower seeds with it. Those of you who know me remember the "bag a day" seed habit I once had. Years of therapy and 4 stints in rehab and now I've been clean for a long time....ANYWAY, many years later, in my 40's I briefly had the money and the insurance to get a crown on the chipped tooth. The dentist screwed it up and I was in pain for almost a year. Then it chipped, so I go to a new dentist. He inspires a lot more confidence and he talks me into getting a veneer on the other front tooth so that they match better. I thought it over for quite a while 'cause I'd already taken a pretty good (just not pretty) tooth and messed it up. Vanity got the best of me and I went for it. And they looked great! But, then that veneered tooth shatters (still wonder why?) and now I have two weak-ass front teeth. But, they look good. Shit... So, from here on out, I have to be really careful with what I eat. No biting into apples and other stuff that puts a lot of stress on them. Sigh....
I'm not really impressed with Honolulu. Just another big city. Granted, I only saw a small portion of it, but the traffic was really bad. When I think of Hawaii, bad traffic is not what should come to mind. I'd get off work and stop at the Ala Moana Mall to have dinner at their food court. Remember, I had a temporary crown, so was eating a lot of rice. After dinner I'd walk around looking and doing a little shopping. (Coolie cups and a small soft-sided cooler). I looked at all the choices of stuff in that mall and was just amazed. We as a people in this country have a lot of options on most everything: cars, clothes, food, schools; it's kind of obscene in a way compared to what some folks in the world have to deal with. Don't get me wrong, I'd much rather be here than there. It's just....a lot. Choice is good in so many ways. Choice of where to live, choice of what you want to do in life, choice in who our President is (well, not that much choice, I guess) It got me to thinking about the choices I've made in my life. Boy, I've made some doozies. Some, I really regret. I've done some really dumb things and I know I've hurt some people. I'm really glad I came out here, but, sometimes I wonder if I'm losing my son. Or is it just his hitting that age where he likes to be with friends more than the old man. I know it's a natural progression and it happens, but....it's hard.... He chose to not come visit out here. I think in years to come he will regret it, 'cause it probably is a once-in-a-lifetime thing, but, I have to respect his decision. But, it's hard.... So, go hug your kid and tell them you love them, 'cause all too soon, they'll be spreading their wings and going their own way.
Love ya,
Murray
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2 comments:
Well, given that the relationship was pretty good to begin with, absence isn't going to really screw up your future relationship with your son. Went through the same thing with J for a while. Now that he's in the Marines a long way from home, he's happy as heck just to chat with his old fogey parents on the phone every weekend. We'll have to see how married life affects the frequency of H's contacts with us...pretty soon.
Hope you're right bro! It's really hard to let him go his own way. Would you believe he's growing dreads? I started to have a fit, but then figured he might as well try them out now when it doesn't make much difference.
But,man, it's hard.
Say hi to the kiddos for me and give Michelle a hug for me.
Love ya!
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