Definite sign of the changing seasons--dragging Madam Pontoon on a trailer heading to her winter abode. The Robel pole barn was graciously offered thus leading to the perilous journey on back roads with what has to be the most gargantuan trailer on two wheels. We were the guys you hate to get behind on a two-laner. Considering the cost of gasoline these days, it's a good thing we only have to fill it up once every two years- Ouch.
Offered to to pick up the boy from after school Adventure Club leading to an eager tour of his classroom. He commandeers one of two special seats that face a square of four other desks. Much like the chairman of the Board. His Mother said at the Homecoming parade twenty people must have stopped to say hello to him so the chairman reference is appropriate. I don't know if it's especially crowded or this is the "new" classroom design, but it is all open rooms with bookshelves between. Not sure how one can identify their particular hubbub from other classrooms or maybe it doesn't matter. Which reminds me...
Had a much anticipated (not in a good way) dentist appointment for a new crown this week and they also embrace the open concept with no floor to ceiling separation. A liberal application of gas and/or novacain keeps the clients from freaking out those who are merely there for a cleaning. I warned ahead of time I insist on frequent breaks as my jaw tends to spasm so we had some interesting conversation. Mother always told us to make an impression so we are not just another patient -positively or negatively I assume. She was a master at "small talk" with strangers. Our friends loved her. We would troop home various bodies on weekends from college and she was always open to it. Not the typical Mom, she would much rather host never-ending euchre tournaments or debate politics than hide in the kitchen.
Anyway, I have been a patient of this dental practice so long I am actually being treated by my original doctor's son. I regaled him with tales about his father such as how much he enjoyed reading my newspaper opinions each week though he did not agree with me on any (read too liberal). I also related that I was the catalyst for insisting they wear gloves when the AIDS/HIV precautions were just coming out. Due to my occupation I had to create a program and do a lot of training on the subject. Both the doctor and technician were shocked it was ever an issue. They're both young, so it was the norm for their training. Things change and become routine. Funny how we forget everything had to start somewhere. We also had a discussion on chemicals (PFAS) as I had just done a podcast interview on the topic (love to educate).
Somehow we got on the topic of various inspections I had done including the Ionia prison. I told them the conditions for the traveling dentist were abysmal with such close quarters that body fluids were routinely shared. He relayed his own story where he was treating a prisoner (part of their training I'm guessing) and he normally asks the patient to lift a hand if they are uncomfortable. Then he realized she was handcuffed to the chair (which would have made me uncomfortable). I said did you tell her to just raise a leg? He had to think about whether that was restrained as well. At any rate, I am not sure if it was a compliment but the Doctor said I was extremely memorable.
The discussion actually made me realize something. So many people lose their more liberal, saving the world ideals, and start worrying about themselves as they grow older. It's one thing to get older, but closing one's mind to new ideas and the concept of change is fatal. It will age you faster than your years. I believe working in safety and health for so many years and having to change my thinking, my strategy, what I thought I knew and what I learned, kept me mentally nimble and open to new research and ideas. I really resent it when folks become stuck in worn-out comfortable concepts or actually regress as change and listening to up-to-date information becomes too difficult.
Go back to school; learn a foreign language; visit a new city; go zip-lining. Staying in one place mentally forever is mind-numbing. That was reinforced when I interviewed the VP of Operations from an environmental consulting firm on PFAS. I had to study a bit as I struggled to keep up with his scientific concepts and acronyms -lol. Made me feel like a student again!
A couple weeks' break from "es-tating" has been relaxing. Finally good news from the insurance company after two months of pretty constant haranging. Apparently we have waded through a sufficient amount of paperwork, hoops, rings and dust bunnies to receive the payout. Fortuitous as the estate sale money only goes so far. Slight set-back on the house, but hopefully it will be resolved before winter. Do not relish bob-sledding up to Rogers to sign paperwork. So all good. Peace out...💙💛
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