Slice of Life

I've seen other bloggers participate in this challenge by Two Writing Teachers, but I've never done one because I try to limit my personality leakage and stick to books. Since personality was leaking everywhere in my library yesterday, I thought I would share.

After a lovely week of spring break, I found myself with a persisently nagging toothache all day Sunday and into the night. Well into the night. Nothing helped: the warm saltwater gargle, the warm rice bag, the ill-considered swish of cold water that caused my eyes to water and cross with the pain. Since I well know that F.W. Woolworth died of septicemia because he didn't like dentists, when I rolled out of bed still in agony, I drove the car to work so I could get to the dentist quickly.

The office supposedly opened at 8:00 a.m., so I called during announcements, I called after my first class, and finally, the receptionist called me back. I explained that I was very sorry to bother them, and maybe I was reacting poorly to my first ever toothache, but I was uncomfortable and thought the issue should be addressed. There was an appointment at 4:00, but it didn't sound like I could wait that long: could I come in right now?

Just let me get my coat.

Luckily, the office is a half mile from school, because I completely understood people who pull their own teeth at this point in time. A stabbing pain radiated from my jaw, every gland in my neck felt swollen and sore, and it was all I could do to keep from screaming when I sucked in a cold mouthful of air in the parking lot. Being poked and prodded for the exam and x ray didn't help, but did convince me that Novocaine was the most brilliant invention in the world.

In between, I managed to ask my dentist, who attend my school, if she would like to be our speaker at our Bulldog Breakfast in a few weeks, so I was actually working.

After picking up my prescription for an antibiotic for the inexplicable infection at the root of my tooth and one for prescription ibuprofen, I continued through my day of getting students books, occasionally stepping into the back room to moan silently and massage my jaw, and wishing that I had gone taken the Percocet offered. Less pain AND more amusement for everyone while I was loopy. Just as well that I didn't, though, since I had to take the dog to the vet after school.

It was 7:00 p.m. by the time the throbbing subsided, but I learned so much during the day. I learned that Novocaine does in fact make half your tongue and lips so numb that putting on lip balm becomes a novel exercise in believing one has no lips. I earned a new appreciation for people suffering from chronic pain. I readjusted my "Scale of Pain", wherein previously having warts liquid nitrogened off the bottom of my foot was a ten and giving birth without any drugs was a five and limping around with a pulled IT band was a two. (Actually pulling the IT band was a five as well.) The toothache moved the wart down to nine.

This morning, after a blissfully pain free night of sleep, I feel bludgeoned, exhausted, and sore, but today is going to be a MUCH better day than yesterday. A good friend of mine once told me that "All sun and no rain makes a desert." It's much easier to be grateful for a lack of pain when we have spent some time in its presence!