Have never been too sure about this time-travel business; didn't think it was possible. But after last Friday, I am convinced it happens.
Don't go running to your physics texts or L'Engle's Wrinkle in Time. I'm not talking about that kind of time travel. This is much more, uh, earthbound, and something I'll bet most of you have experienced.
Last Friday, I had to have a molar extracted. Apparently there was a vertical root fracture and infection had set in. It had been years since I'd had a tooth extracted, so I was understandably nervous. Didn't help that the assistant was of the old school type: all business, no smiles.
The moment the lavender bib was clipped on to me, all the good things from the past thirty over years--the uneventful moments at the dentist, the years of experiences, the maturity and sophistication I thought I'd acquired--whoosh! Gone. Just like that.
[Dentist visit by snowriderguy at Flickr]At the mercy of two people with instruments of torture and loud noises, who pricked my gum and the roof of my mouth repeatedly with needles, who applied intense pressure to yank out my stubborn tooth, who sawed my tooth with a tool that produced a horrid buzzing sound and the even more horrid smell of tooth splintering: I was a helpless and scared six year old.
I am now a true believer in time travel.
Didn't quite expect the dentist chair to be a time machine, but after experiencing it first hand, I can no longer doubt this phenomenon.By the way, anyone read Rebecca Stead's When I Reach You yet? If you have, would you mind letting me know what you think?
8 comments:
Oh, poor you! Hope you feel okay now.
eww, hate the dentist. Speaking of time travel I'm reading Outlander. My first time travel read!
Uuuugh. I time traveled when I got my wisdom tooth pulled, too. And the dentist hit me in the lip with one of those needles. He's all, "Oops," and I'm all, "Moron!"
It was definitely time to do a timeslip...
Aaaack! What an unpleasant dental experience. And it doesn't sound like you as a 6 year old had a better time than adult you in the present.
Oh I'm sorry you had to go through that! I'm always a six-year-old in the dentist's chair. I put a death-grip on the arm rests. I wish I really could time-travel and not be there at all while it's happening....
Ick. I hate the dentist. I have a wisdom tooth that needs to come out and I've been ignoring it for like a year. Your post didn't make me any more eager to schedule the appt ;(
Speaking of universal: dreading the dentist definitely qualifies!
(Tanita: really? Oops?)
I'm late reading this, so I hope you're all better (and recovered from your trauma.) Your description made me shudder. In fact, I think it made my teeth hurt, just thinking about your horrid experience!
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