pinkhairthing

I went to my periodontist yesterday for the LAST TIME, and I had a very nice time. First, the dental hygenist and I talked about paintings. She and I agree on German expressionism (wonderful) but she likes the impressionists more than I do, and the modernists less. She doesn’t really get Rothko, which is a sticking point, but I forgive her. To each his own. And her daughter is in acupuncture school. They moved here 12 years ago from eastern Europe. Isn’t Prague beautiful? Yes. Isn’t Vienna uptight? Yes, but oh, the Klimt museum, yes, yes.

Then on to Dr. Hoexter. (Imagine your classic New York Uncle, the periodontist.) He gave me the all-clear on the big hole in my mouth (It’s not a hole! It’s a gap! – Dr. Hoexter) But talked to me about what I should do next: bleaching. But not just bleaching.
“I look at your mouth, and there is no symmetry at the gum line. We can cut away this gum here, and here, and here, so all your gum tops are symmetrical.” Wha…? I had so much fun with my previous surgeries, for which I paid about $1500 of my, you know, extra money I have lying around, that I now want more? Because I like it when people take a scalpel to my gums? No, I don’t. Because anyone except Dr. Hoexter and the French impressionism loving dental hygenist have ever seen the tops of my gums? What am I, Cheryl Tiegs??!!?? But then he showed me a book he has about Chinese herbs that he thinks is just wonderful, and exhorted me to write up EVERY CASE and publish them, and write a book about Chinese Medicine. He is adorable.

Then I went to pay, for the LAST TIME, and Evelyn, the extraordinary receptionist asked how my boards went, and how planning for the wedding is going. How does she remember that? Then I thanked her, and she said it was a pleasure and I should call if I ever need anything, or any advice, or if I ever have any questions, and to send wedding pictures (presumably of me smiling my yellow-toothed, crooked gum-top smile). And I said it was a pleasure for me too, except for the drilling, and the sawing, and the bleeding, and the paying. Then we all laughed, and Dr. Hoexter hugged me, and I got a little choked up, and I went for a walk in Central Park.

I am fucking going to miss New York.