One Day
Posted by Dory @ Lucky Dorito on Thursday, November 12th, 2009
If you’ve been reading here for any length of time, you are probably well aware of the fact that I am a full-time dental hygienist. I’ve been in the field of dentistry for over 20 years, working as a dental assistant and a receptionist prior to getting my associate and bachelor degrees in dental hygiene over 12 years ago. I love my profession and the opportunity it affords me to have uninterrupted one-on-one time with each patient. It is a unique profession – rarely do any other health care providers get to spend nearly an hour with each patient, often twice a year.
That being said, it would naturally follow that I often become very good friends with my patients, finding myself both professionally and personally invested in their health and well-being. Over the years, I have been invited to and have attended weddings and baby showers of my patients. I am Facebook *friends* with several of my patients-turned-friends. I have written letters to patients’ medical doctors on their behalf when necessary just as I have made hundreds of phone calls to physicians over the years to verify certain facts and situations.
On the lighter side though, I sometimes completely goof off with a patient also. We laugh together and share funny stories. Sometimes I don’t know how we actually manage to get any work done as we giggle our way through an appointment. And I love it when a patient hugs me on their way out, thanking me for a job well done. (I’ve only been hugged by female patients – I don’t know how I’d feel if a man was to hug me. They usually either shake my hand or pat me on the back, thank goodness.)
Every now and then, something happens over the course of an appointment that really gets me thinking. As I work, the wheels of my brain are turning, trying to figure something out.
Like when I noticed my seventeen year old male patient had the words “one day” written on the back of his hand.
What could that possibly mean to him?
One day what ?
One day I’ll graduate ?
One day I’ll get married ?
One day I’ll leave this one-horse-town ?
One day my ship will come in ?
One day that girl will love me ?
One day our basketball team will win ??
Come ON……………What could it BE??
I thought about it and thought about it and finally….
when I couldn’t take it anymore….
I asked.
He chuckled and said, “Oh… well… that’s the name of a song I heard this morning and didn’t want to forget it.”
“One day”
Ohhhhh.
P.S. Do you still write on your hand? I did as a kid and I know my daughters jot down reminders on theirs also…. but I don’t know at what age I quit doing that.
Filed in Just plain funny, Me, Randomness, Weirdness in my world | 8 dorito bits so far
Lenaon 12 Nov 2009 at 6:29 am 1I remember doing that, as a matter of fact, I did it not that long ago but, my hand is now the last option , after digging in my purse and not being able to find any thing to right on.
Stacyon 12 Nov 2009 at 6:33 am 2I very rarely write on my hands, but every so often the need arises.
I love this post and the fact that the kid let you take a pic. Did he know what it was for? lol
I think I need to look up that song though.
Lenaon 12 Nov 2009 at 6:59 am 3type-o write not right sorry
Shannonon 12 Nov 2009 at 7:11 am 4I don’t know if I ever wrote on my hand- I kinda doubt it. I know that it has always driven me crazy when Madison does it- and I tell her not to do it anytime I see writing on her hand. (I’m sure it’s not shocking to anyone that that bugs OCDish me huh?
Tracieon 12 Nov 2009 at 9:01 am 5I have not written on my hands for years. I know I did when I was in school, but I can also remember being embarrased by how yucky in looked so I’m sure thats when I quit.
Beccaon 12 Nov 2009 at 1:13 pm 6I do it in a pinch, but that is next to never now with the iPhone!
Jenon 12 Nov 2009 at 4:10 pm 7I write on my hand everyday! Actually, it is my thumbnail that I write on. I figure my anesthesia time on my thumbnail! The doctor once asked me what kind of art I had on my nail and I showed it to him and told him it was the last patient’s total time under anesthesia… he just shook his head at me. It sure is “handy” to have it written there!
Doryon 12 Nov 2009 at 9:09 pm 8@ Jen – That’s a HOOT!
But… aren’t you wearing gloves?