I Spent The Afternoon w/Susan's Fingers In My Mouth

Sensuously nibbling? Unfortunately no.........but a pleasurable experience, nevertheless. Susan is my very affable dental hygienist. I really like her. I always have. Every six months, I look forward to lying in her chair, and listening to her stomach growl, as she gently probes my mandibles, and fills me in on what's been happening with her family.

I knew that my dentist liked to keep his office cold, so I made sure to wear a thick undershirt, corduroy pants, a long sleeved shirt, and a sweater. To say his office was cold, would be an understatement. The place was like a meat locker! Although clad in knee socks, and multiple layers of cotton, and acrylic fibers, I was still feeling the chill. I mentioned to Susan, that it was always cold in their office. Her eyes rolled back in her head, and she said, "Tell me about it! I'm wearing long underwear, warm socks, long pants, a turtleneck, and a sweater and I'm still freezing!" " HE'S always hot", she said," so he likes to keep it cold! The rest of us compensate, by wearing warm clothes." I said, "Well........he can't really take his clothes off while he is working, so I guess it's a good compromise. "

Susan is sweetheart! She and her husband own a popular deli, in a favorite older shopping district, in one of Richmond's hippest neighborhoods. He runs the deli; one of the few here in central Va., where you can actually get an authentic New Jersey style submarine sandwich, made with Italian bread that is crunchy on the outside, and chewy on the inside! She cleans teeth, for an established Richmond inner city dental practice. She has two kids; a girl and a boy. Her daughter plays a harp! Yes, you heard that right! A harp! She was even invited to study at the Julliard School, in Manhattan! Isn't that just the coolest?! I have loved the harp, ever since I first saw Harpo Marx, in the old Marx Brothers films.

I've known her for years, and always ask for a late day appointment with her. The problem is, because of her family obligations, she has had to move her hours back, forgoing lunch, and leaving earlier. Since I have retired, I've become somewhat of a slug, and like to sleep late. Even after getting up, it takes several hours to completely wake up. Then I have to get my exercise, and eat lunch. With an hour's drive into town, 2:30 PM is the earliest that I can see her. Fortunately that is her last scheduled appointment for the day, before she has to leave to pick her daughter up from school.

"Your teeth look great!" , she said, "So do your gums!" That was the good news! Apparently my regular flossing, brushing, and fluoride rinsing has been doing the trick! The sad news, is that I have broken a porcelain crown, and will need to have it replaced. They are working up an estimate with my insurance company now, and will get back with me to schedule another appointment to replace it. I hope this time is the last. I had that crown put on two years ago, and a year later it came off while flossing. I had it replaced, and two months later I bit down on something hard, and it broke. I had it repaired, then two weeks later, I bit down on something hard, and it broke again! It was a pure porcelain crown, with no metal backing. I loved it, because it looked so natural, but its location put too much bite stress on the tooth. On the recommendation of Susan, my dentist is going to replace it with a combination metal and porcelain crown. See how smart girls are!? She knew instinctively that the porcelain crown needed a metal underpinning, yet my dentist, who had been practicing for 25-30 years, put two non-reinforced porcelain crowns on that tooth, only to see them both broken. Fortunately thanks to Susan, it shall now be replaced by a proper oral prosthesis.

Tomorrow, I shall be making my way to the county dump once again. Because of heavy snows and extra cold temperatures, I haven't been there since before Christmas. I have lots of cardboard and bagged garbage for the Gods of recycling. They should be exceedingly pleased with my offerings!

Melissa XX