Irony Unfolds

You'd think the foremost thought today would be the take out of bin Laden. And it is in most cases. But I had a dental appointment this morning. A simple cleaning was all.

I struggled to get the appointment. I haven't had my teeth cleaned in a year. Usually I get my teeth cleaned every 3 or 4 months because I've had periodontal disease and all kinds of excruciating procedures done to treat this problem. Then I came to Arizona and was dentistless for a year. Finally, an abscess and major pain sent me in pursuit of a dentist. One was expensive. The second was cheaper. I went with the cheaper. Therein lies the rub.

The cheaper never scheduled regular cleanings. Now I tried to get in to them again and they wouldn't unless I had root planing. (Ouch! Pain and money.) So I made plans to go to the more expensive dentist for a cleaning. As soon as I opened my mouth they fretted. They X-rayed. They called the dentist in for a consultation. This was not looking good.

The doctor says the crown I got last year might not be done right and there might be decay under it. He says that I'm in worse shape than I was a year ago in the gum disease department. He was concerned that I did all that and it's not working.

So as it turns out, I have to go back tomorrow for a root planing and major pain and agony. The charge is over $800, my share about $290. I have to reschedule bug man. Miss lunch with a church group. And suffer major distress at the thoughts of fighting the scourge again. I'm not happy. Not happy!

The other irony is that on two different news interviews today, the interviewee has referred to Osama bin Laden as Obama. Twice mind you. In two different times and two separate places. I don't know what it means, if anything. But it is a bit troubling when we speak of our president and our major enemy interchangeably. I just thought I'd throw that out there.

Also, bin Laden's elaborate mansion compound was 1000 yds. from a Pakistan military academy equivalent to our West Point or Annapolis. And no one suspected a thing they would have us believe. Oh, really!

One of bin Laden's wives died while being used as a human shield. No one is sure whether he used her or she sacrificed herself. Really ironic. The coward hid behind a woman.

And, finally, some bad mouthed George W. Bush when he went after bin Laden. Now some praise President Obama as the one wise enough to go after this evil force. Give credit where credit is due. Both administrations were active in putting away this bad man. However, the military deserve most of our thanks for being the first line that sacrificed lives and effort to destroy this despicable element of Al Qeida.

I know dental disease is not equal to the take down of our # 1 terrorist threat. I will regain my perspective and become rational again. It's just that my teeth hurt, my pocketbook hurts, and this is not as happy a day as I wanted it to be.