I am CRYING. Middle Earth, Viking folk songs... it's just heaven. I also hate the dentist, after having an experience not unlike something from Marathon Man. I'm going on Friday. Pray for me.
And isn't it the genius of the Marathon Man scene that it's something we can too well imagine? I saw it in a London theater full of British teeth and the collective squirm was a creature unto itself. Wishing you courage and good drugs on Friday, Maggie...
Glad you managed to get a good outcome and (hopefully) non-green teeth! I am imagining Dr Toothbrush as a giant toothbrush with a kindly smile. And is Mary gone forever?!
Thank you for this, Sarah, and, yes, Dr. Toothbrush is a perfectly lovely man who is extremely kind to the patient of his nightmares. Mary is still around and still a sweetheart, although both she and the doctor are beginning to look just a trifle harried under the new regime ...
The odd thing is that I was 6 when the sweets/candy became available post-War II and I have never developed a sweet tooth. Probably the absence of any dental care worth a tinker's curse, no fluoride, etc., in my case. {Cue the violins and hanky} We were too poor to have toothbrushes ...
It’s the details for me. Every aside adds color and life, especially the “event” guest list, which had me giggling. The way you tell a story is just brilliant. And I love that we got a happy ending. 😀
Oh, that's so nice to hear, Marianne, thank you. I was pretty pleased with the happy ending too, and yes, thanks, the Valium made all the difference, and I remain nevertheless a respectable member of society.
Dental charges were introduced in 1952, so not free for most of my life. I believe they were free whilst you were at school though.
Fortunately I've never been much of a sweet eater, so I still have most of my teeth, albeit with a lot of filings. Personally, it's the hygienists I really dislike...
That's odd, Bob, because I don't remember ever paying for dental work and my first American dentist's comment is engraved in my mind. There was an urban legend when we were children that one reason we all had so much work done was that the dentists were paid by the government per filling. Who knows? As for the hygienists, my only personal feeling towards any one of them who is landed with working on me is the most profound sympathy....
It's all too long ago ! That's probably true, paid per filling, which is still the case for NHS dentistry, although it's payment per class of treatment. I just paid £75 for a checkup, x-ray and a filling at my NHS dentist.
When my first American dentist at last regained the power of speech, his next comment was indeed that "You get what you pay for." L75 on the NHS seems quite expensive to me, but what does a chicken like me know?
I was lucky to grow up at a time when the NHS was efficient, and, having also been blessed with good health so far, I've always thought it was the least I could do for people less fortunate than myself to pay a little extra in tax to help fund their care. I just wish everybody else thought the same ...
Very funny. I leaned a new word that I will probably never use in my life... pusillamimity. That certainly is what the lion in the Wizard of Oz had. Oh, and what happened to Mary?
I love your details. The beginning and the ending make a perfect circle.
That's so lovely to hear, Jennifer. Thank you!
You’re welcome.
I am CRYING. Middle Earth, Viking folk songs... it's just heaven. I also hate the dentist, after having an experience not unlike something from Marathon Man. I'm going on Friday. Pray for me.
And isn't it the genius of the Marathon Man scene that it's something we can too well imagine? I saw it in a London theater full of British teeth and the collective squirm was a creature unto itself. Wishing you courage and good drugs on Friday, Maggie...
I postponed the appointment.... couldn't face it today!
Glad you managed to get a good outcome and (hopefully) non-green teeth! I am imagining Dr Toothbrush as a giant toothbrush with a kindly smile. And is Mary gone forever?!
Thank you for this, Sarah, and, yes, Dr. Toothbrush is a perfectly lovely man who is extremely kind to the patient of his nightmares. Mary is still around and still a sweetheart, although both she and the doctor are beginning to look just a trifle harried under the new regime ...
My first dentist in the US was called, I kid you not, Dr. Drebes. He looked in my mouth and said "What do you Limeys do to your teeth?"
Thanks for the giggle, M, and the question has left me wondering just how much sugar was hidden in our thrice-daily slices of Humble Pie? Thoughts?
The odd thing is that I was 6 when the sweets/candy became available post-War II and I have never developed a sweet tooth. Probably the absence of any dental care worth a tinker's curse, no fluoride, etc., in my case. {Cue the violins and hanky} We were too poor to have toothbrushes ...
Well, that more or less bears out the Jesuits' line about give me a child until he is seven, doesn't it? Uncle Tony would be triumphant.
It’s the details for me. Every aside adds color and life, especially the “event” guest list, which had me giggling. The way you tell a story is just brilliant. And I love that we got a happy ending. 😀
Oh, that's so nice to hear, Marianne, thank you. I was pretty pleased with the happy ending too, and yes, thanks, the Valium made all the difference, and I remain nevertheless a respectable member of society.
Dental charges were introduced in 1952, so not free for most of my life. I believe they were free whilst you were at school though.
Fortunately I've never been much of a sweet eater, so I still have most of my teeth, albeit with a lot of filings. Personally, it's the hygienists I really dislike...
That's odd, Bob, because I don't remember ever paying for dental work and my first American dentist's comment is engraved in my mind. There was an urban legend when we were children that one reason we all had so much work done was that the dentists were paid by the government per filling. Who knows? As for the hygienists, my only personal feeling towards any one of them who is landed with working on me is the most profound sympathy....
It's all too long ago ! That's probably true, paid per filling, which is still the case for NHS dentistry, although it's payment per class of treatment. I just paid £75 for a checkup, x-ray and a filling at my NHS dentist.
When my first American dentist at last regained the power of speech, his next comment was indeed that "You get what you pay for." L75 on the NHS seems quite expensive to me, but what does a chicken like me know?
I don't have a comparator other than knowing going private would be much, much costlier. Band 1 treatment, just an examination say, would be £27.
The big problem we have is lack of dentists, so in some areas, NHS treatment is impossible to get.
I was lucky to grow up at a time when the NHS was efficient, and, having also been blessed with good health so far, I've always thought it was the least I could do for people less fortunate than myself to pay a little extra in tax to help fund their care. I just wish everybody else thought the same ...
Very funny. I leaned a new word that I will probably never use in my life... pusillamimity. That certainly is what the lion in the Wizard of Oz had. Oh, and what happened to Mary?
Oh, Mary's still there, Karen, although I don't think she and the new sheriff are going out for girly lunches together. Glad you enjoyed the post ...