A Sisterly Reminder...

I walked into my dentist's office for the third time this week. With a lot of work to be accomplished and little time to do so before the convention, here I was again, sitting in the dental chair waiting on the inevitable.
Soon, my dentist and his assistant enter the room. Red swabs are placed in many specific areas of my left cheek. Within moments these are carefully removed and a shiny instrument comes my way. After about the third invasion inside my cheek, nothing more is felt. He can stick that thing anywhere on the left side and it won't matter. Not so for the roof of my mouth though. I feel a firm sting there but within moments, once again, all is numb.
Now both the dentist and his assistant leave the room and I am left sitting up in the chair, alone in my thoughts. It's okay since I've been there many times. I find that it's actally a rather useful and comforting place these days. I immediately thought about how bad I hate this feeling of no control, since I can feel nothing on the left jaw. I sense that this cheek is sagging now and I have no control over the effects of the medication. It's a terrible feeling but then I'm comforted in the truth that as bad as it feels now, it's only temporary. Within a few hours, it will all be over and I'll have my jaw back.
Then my thoughts drifted to my sister and how terrible she must feel trapped inside of a body that refuses to work. Since the automobile accident, her entire right side is paralyzed. She cannot do anything on her own anymore. She can't walk, talk, laugh, eat or enjoy life.
As I looked outside the window from my dentist chair on this bright sunny day, I noticed that a lone tear slid down my right cheek just before my dentist and his assistant reentered the room.
I gladly push my earlier thoughts aside for now, but not without wondering, 'just who is the victim of this tragedy these days?" It seems my thoughts are interrupted almost daily with sisterly reminders. Occasionally when I see two brothers together, I am almost resentful. I can feel the same humanistic way when I witness two sisters. I can't help but wonder if they understand how fragile life is and if they truly appreciate the time they have together. Since in a moment and with one simple telephone call, life can change. But then, that's another story for another time.