Some time for Teddy.

Deb suggested that I could get 'something done', at the dentist. Putting aside the shiver factor of dentistry, I politely asked what she meant, and she suggested getting my teeth whitened.
Now I find that teeth whitening is an idea that I would never have had. But she thought that my teeth weren't as white as when we got married and this would be a good idea.

Then she told me that she had made me an appointment for Friday at 4 pm. For some reason, once she had made an appointment, then I was obliged to go through with it.

And then, she talked to the concierge at the hotel about setting up a snorkeling trip. Now, this is something I really did want to do. Ever since I first saw Jacques Cousteau, I've wanted to dive in the ocean. I used to swim under water every chance I could get. I'd swim underwater in lakes, and pools. I tried to hold my breath as long as possible and at one time, I could swim the length of a regulation pool underwater. The chance to go snorkeling in the ocean, the Pacific Ocean, was exciting.

I was looking forward to getting wet. BUT, we kept getting mixed messages about what was expected. On Thursday, we were getting discouraged about making this happen. We both got on the internet, and could find much information about tours and such. This looks sketchy at best.

OK, so Friday afternoon comes around, and I get in the chair. The technician starts loading my mouth up with something to keep my lips out of the way, gauze to protect my tongue, some sort of rubber that covers my gums and is hardened with her magic wand (really, a magic wand). I get high tech yellow sunglasses and the little hooky thing that slurps up spit.

And then she anoints my teeth with magic whitening fluid and brings in the laser.
Twenty minutes later, she comes in, adds more goo, and sets up the laser. Deb has finished her work for the day, so she comes in and tries to get me to talk. The oral fixation device reduces my speach to "Ungh, ungh." So she gets bored and leaves me in the dark.

Twenty minutes more of laser radiation, and I'm finally, sort of done. The tech hand me a mirror, and I can look into my death's head grin, to see my whiter teeth.

"Is good?" She asks, "Want one more?"
I agree that I am satisfied, and beg to have my mouth back. She just smiles and begins to unpack my mouth. After much rinsing, and gargling and removal of a really amazing amount of stuff from my mouth, I am released. Deb is waiting in the hall, and demands to have me smile. "Oh yes, that's much better. Come on." She grabs my arm and drags me over to her new friend Nickoletta. Nicky, as we now call her, is scheduled for whitening on Tuesday, and she wants to see my results.
"What's that white spot?" Nicky asks.
We agree that I had that spot before the treatment. And Nicky is kind enough to give her approval.

And so, now I have whiter teeth. Next time you see me, ask me to smile.