Through our years, Doctor Jennifer and I have worked in just about every kind of dental office you can imagine. We’ve spent time in a cosmetic office in the heart of San Antonio. We’ve worked for corporate group practices and public health clinics. We’ve practiced dentistry in offices that cater to kids and offices that specialize in adults and seniors. It seems, in our careers, we’ve seen quite a few ways to practice the art and the science of dentistry.
Of all the places we’ve been, and all the teeth that we’ve fixed, small town, hill country Texas is the most fun.
All because of y’all.
We have patients that bring cookies for our whole team when they have appointments. Sometimes fresh eggs, or cakes, or kolaches show up. A few nice ribeyes made it in the door as well. Once, an extremely nervous patient brought in a bottle of whiskey (no, we did not let him or us imbibe.) We have some patients that occasionally stop in just for a visit or a hug. Really. A hug. We have been blessed with advice, prayers, office pillows, baby presents, thank you notes, and even a homemade quilt.
We have patients who are professional cowboys and teachers and welders and poets. We see kids from the ages of toddler to the ages of “know it all.” On any given day, our entry may house a doctor, a lawyer, a preacher, and a politician. There must be some joke about that somewhere.
We’ve been inspired by patients who have beaten cancer, who live gracefully with incurable disease, and those who just love life. We’ve seen patients overcome horrible accidents and crippling loss. On more than one occasion, stories of life have made what we do seem small.
We’ve made friends. We’ve heard stories of traveling the world and camping and graduations and hunting and Christmas shopping. One of my favorite travel stories is the two widowed sisters who up and bought an RV to go see the U.S.A. They were near seventy at the time and just took off to wherever the road led them. For several years.
Yes, dentistry is a rewarding profession. The truth is though, the rewards have nothing to do with teeth. Thanks to you all.
Until next week, please, keep on smiling.
-Suggestions can be sent to Drs. Parrish at www.ParrishDental.com.
