Saul N. Miller, D.D.S. Editor
Originally published in The Journal of the Philadelphia County Dental Society, Vol. 75, #1, July/August/September 2010.
For several years I have been writing this column under the title, It's Not Just about the Teeth. As my deadline for this issue approached, I realized that the reason that nothing was yet written was because there was so much that is ‘not just about the teeth.’ Have you noticed that this country, the world and its people are getting crazier, more violent, stranger and more oblivious to reality everyday? Well, my friends, if you haven't, let me suggest that for you it may be ‘just all about the teeth.’
Consider the following tales of life in 2010.
On May 23, for example, the Duchess of York (yes, the woman on whom I relied for weight management advice) was caught in a $700,000 sting operation, shaking down an undercover British reporter who was posing as a businessman seeking access to her ex-husband, Prince Andrew. The journalist, Mazher Mahmood, known as the Fake Sheik, was the regular investigative reporter for News of the World. I guess her business plan did not allow time to read the local papers, or maybe she stopped the paper and just relied on Access London or the Internet. Big mistake, Fergie. She, of course, was "devastated" and apologized for her lapse in judgment, which she obviously was not aware of until she got caught.
On May 18, the AP reported that Bristol Palin, daughter of former Governor Sarah Palin, will be going on the lecture circuit at fees of $15,000 to $30,000 per lecture. Her topics will include such themes as abstinence and faith and life, with the honorarium dependent upon the organization and her preparation time. With all due respect, although she may be well qualified for such gigs, she is demanding more than some of the dental lecturers on the circuit.
Then, we have the attorney general of Connecticut who, on May 19, apologized for the several occasions on which he misspoke about his military experience and service in Vietnam – where, it turns out, he did not serve.
Also on May 19, there was a story of New Jersey's missing moon rock, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Now, it just happens that most of the commemorative moon rocks given to the 50 states are also missing. Former Governor Byrne and his chief of staff don't know what happened to New Jersey’s rock, and the curator of the State Museum says it never arrived at the institution. In fact, I understand. It must be hard to keep track of a sliver of a moon rock encased in plastic and mounted on a plaque. Then again, I still have the American Legion award that I was given in 8th grade – but that's another story.
When several lucky individuals read the first draft of this treatise, they noted that there was nothing about violence. Ironic, don't you think, not enough violence? I avoided the topic purposely to keep the column ‘on the lighter side,’ but I listen to my readers. Chicago, home to the American Dental Association and President Barack Obama, is in the midst of a crisis of violence which left at least 16 people wounded and 1 dead between May 23 and May 25; 7 people killed and 18 wounded in one night in late April, and 14 people shot from late April 1 thru early April 2. State lawmakers have called for the National Guard to intervene, but the police superintendent said it may not be the "best answer." With situations like this, we might even begin to think of Philadelphia as the City of Brotherly Love . . . at this moment in time.
You just can't make this stuff up; actually you can, but why take the time when others are doing it so well for you. Law and Order was on the air for 20 years, plus spinoffs, thanks to ripping stories from the headlines. Is it any wonder why my dental office seems like an oasis of sanity, even with Ms. Rita telling me how to run the office (Thanks, Rita!). There are patients who present what we euphemistically call ‘management challenges,’ air conditioners requiring replacement, Naugahyde wearing thin from constant disinfection, and the patient who fell asleep following local anesthesia administration. After I checked to be sure he was still ‘with us,’ he noted that he had insomnia. Why don't people with insomnia get it during the day? It certainly would be more productive. Yes indeed, that's some oasis! Serenity now . . . serenity now.
Time to hit the road, where it’s just about the bike . . . or is it?
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