By Mark Hartley
I attended a dental association's annual get-together last weekend. Naturally, the association devoted part of its program to bestow awards on members. There was quite a long list of recognized award winners.
I lost track of the number of award winners who "worked tirelessly," according to the award presenters.
Since I am mathematically challenged, I just started paying attention to the award winners who went up to accept their plaques. In addition, there were a large number of association officials and members right around the podium area. I watched them too.
They all looked pretty normal to me. In other words, they did not strike me as belonging to a cult that is fueled by some illegal substance. In fact, they all looked like they had not seen an illegal substance since hanging around with former President Clinton's "did not inhale" generation.
I was greatly puzzled. Whenever I work, I get tired at some point. I have never been able to "work tirelessly." Eventually, labor always tires me. Depending on how much of a sweat is produced, I'll need to pause and drink a glass of water or two. Depending on what time the work started, my body thinks a nap would be a swell idea after several hours.
I was envious. I am not tireless and will probably never receive an award.
One thing is for certain. I thought all of the people who earned the awards deserved them. They went above the call of duty to serve their profession and communities.
"Call of duty" is another phrase we need to examine here.
Dental hygienists were in attendance at this particular meeting, which goes a long way to explaining why I was attempting to work tirelessly over a weekend. I had dinner with one dental hygienist. Dinner, of course, is usually considered to occur after workers have clocked out for the day. Although we did talk about non-dental things, families, travel, etc., this hygienist got very animated in talking about oral health.
The subject matter was important to her, even though she does not treat anyone seated at the table. I would say she goes above the call of duty, wouldn't you?
Her dinner companions got tired after awhile. So we ordered dessert that contained lots of chocolate.
I think chocolate is a great way to distract people who work tirelessly and go beyond the call of duty.
I came home from the meeting and read an e-mail from a hygienist who writes every once in a while for RDH. I will change her name here to Roberta. I have never met a hygienist named Roberta. Why is that?
Anyway, Roberta started to chat a little bit after asking the questions that prompted her to write me. She wrote, "My husband is always teasing me because within five minutes of talking with any hygienist, the conversation always turns to hygiene. He calls it 'Tooth Talk With Roberta.' He loves to tease me about that!"
Bless you all! I intend to give all of you an award as soon as I return from my break.
Mark Hartley is the editor of RDH magazine. He can be contacted at [email protected].
