The Distraction

So, I took the suggestion of bringing my iPod with me to the dentist today when I got a filling done. Um ...….. not so much with the helping. Maybe it distracted me a *little*, but not much. I was still tense and anxious in the chair, gripping the armrests, trying to remember to breathe, and constantly worrying that a person can actually drown in their own saliva.

Hate. It.

It didn’t help any that I made a big production of telling the dentist and his assistant that I was listening to my “soothing easy listening” play list …. Lots of Paul Potts and the London Symphony Orchestra, Sarah Brightman, Enya, etc. It’s actually one of my favorite play lists and is what I listen to whenever I’m feeling melancholy. Or introspective. Or grown up. Or just need to belt out some Air Supply or ballads by Meatloaf.

So imagine my embarrassment when half-way through the filling, in an attempt to be friendly, the dentist leaned over and asked what was playing …. I hit the wheel, only to highlight Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam. “All Cried Out”. Yeah, there’s some highbrow music if ever I heard any.

And despite the fact the dentist and his office staff are very nice, it’s still one of my least favorite places on earth. And so I called Blaine afterwards to whine (incoherently, because half of my face was completely numb) about how much I hate the dentist and woe is me I had to get a filling today.

And he, with the unbelievable amount of dental work and struggle he has had the past five years gave me the following invaluable piece of advice: shut up.

So I think I will.

Trish in Leeburg, VA wonders: “And Skating? How many things can your schools cram into a single week?!?!”

Well, Trish, in addition to the Skate Night last night, this is how the rest of our school week looks: Today was the fourth grade field trip (8 until 1) to the National Cowboy Museum; tomorrow morning is Muffins with Mom at 7:15am, then I volunteer on Thursday afternoons in Kellen’s classroom, then after school I am helping decorate the stage for the 5th grade Honors Chorus concert, which is tomorrow night. Friday is Hat Day, the Knighting Assembly first thing in the morning, then an all-day field trip for the Gifted Program to the local zoo. Next week I have field trips to chaperone on Tuesday and Friday, and Wednesday and Thursday are Track and Field days.

Apparently once the kids at this school take their end-of-the-year standardized testing, there is no need for them to learn any more, so they are never in the classroom. But please don’t think I’m complaining. I enjoy all these activities with my kids (while they are still young enough to want me around; I’m going to take it while I can) and I know that about 48 hours after school lets out for the summer they will be bored stiff and complaining that there is nothing to do. And looking to me to entertain them.

Hmmm, they all three have dental appointments for the first week of June. That should be fun. I’ll just be sure they take their iPods!