I had braces on my teeth during elementary school for which my mother would set up orthodontist appointments for after school, always at 3:15 PM. That timing was unfortunate as follows:
It took about five minutes to get from the school to the orthodontist's office, but if I did that, I would always be scolded for not having brushed my teeth before arriving, even though there was no way to accomplish that at the school. If I went home first to get my teeth clean, by the time I got back to the orthodontist's office, I would be scolded by the orthodontist and later again by my mother for having been way late for my 3:15 appointment.
Every appointment always landed me in hot water, one way or the other. This happened over and over and over and ..... and when I tried to present the problem to my mother, all she would say was "We're on an early schedule!!" which seemed to be an absolute household imperative that would overwhelm and override any and all other considerations. Ergo, she would keep on setting up those same orthodontic appointments for 3:15 PM and I would keep on getting into trouble.
It was an early life lesson. It taught that I should now and then expect to endure and would be required to accept and cope with unsatisfiable demands. The further lesson was that the demanders could be adamant and that there would be no correction, no resolution, no remedy so: "Suck it up, Junior."
At least in the end, the orthodonture worked.
Great story, John! I remember a hated 30-minute bus ride each way to my orthodontist appointment in The Bronx. No life lessons involved! :-) -- David
Posted by: David C Pinkowitz | July 25, 2021 at 12:39 PM