Orthodontist

I usually schedule DD's orthodontist appointments on Mondays, because that's one of the most likely days that I would have off. I noticed that I had written down her December appointment for Tuesday the 16th, and I started second guessing myself, wondering if I wrote it on the wrong date.

So I called the orthodontist's office. "Hi, my name is Carol, and our DD sees the orthodontist there. I usually schedule her appointments on Mondays, so when I saw that this upcoming one was for Tuesday, I figured I'd better call and double check."

"Well, ma'am, I don't really know what to tell you. Our orthodontist passed away suddenly over the weekend. We don't know how long it's going to be until we can find someone to take his place."

"Oh no!!! It must've been a heart attack, then, or something? we just saw him two weeks ago and he looked fine!!! How very sad. I'm very sorry."

"Yes, it was a heart attack. He was only 47 years old."

"I am very sorry. I understand that you don't know what's going on right now. I'll call back next week."

No matter how stressful I think my life is, I think his family will be wishing they had my kind of stress. How sad.

I haven't told DD yet. I don't know how it will affect her. I'm sure she knew who he was, but most of the time the "nurses" did most of the work and he just kind of supervised, so I'm not sure if she'll honestly feel bad, or if she'll get all dramatic, or if it'll be no big deal. There's really not much in the parenting books about this kind of thing!