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Home > Michelle's Blog > Previous Postings > 06/25/07
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Previous Postings |
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June 25, 2007:
Innovation? Yikes!This past week, our company celebrated our 31st year in business. Two Hundred Plus Business Partners joined together in Minneapolis at our conference titled "Innovation and Teamwork". This made me ponder occupations that seem to be innovative, and I thought I better start with one of my two fears in my life - Going to the Dentist!!!
I believe half of my generation, which I'll put myself into the Baby Boomers for this story sake, have a fear of the dentist. That vivid memory of walking down that long hall as a little girl, not wanting to take the next step towards the door at the end of the hall, but as I do, the smells and the sounds becoming closer and more distinct. Then opening the door and seeing those same old chairs, dull colors on the walls, the Giant Lady behind the desk who says "take a seat over there" while she points her "Wicked Witch of the West" sized finger at the lonely chair in the corner. To take my mind off of what's ahead, I grab the Highlights magazine and try the puzzles.
Finally, after many daydreams of running out that door, I hear the words, "The Dr. is ready for you Blomberg Kid #7". In my case, his name was Dr. Harms. I know - that name reeks pain and horror. I bet when he was a kid and realized what his name was, he immediately thought of an occupation where he could inflict it! With 10 kids, my parents needed to find a dentist who would let us budget pay - i.e. $30 a month so they could send the troops whenever we needed it, and even when we didn't. Coupled with this agreement was this - when you run out of money, there is no Novocain!
I had cavity after cavity - probably because when I got my 25¢ for allowance, I dreamed about what candy I could buy and spent hours contemplating that decision at the dime store. And then when I'd sit in that chair with Dr. Harms and apologize to the candy gods for eating so much of it. I'd pray and pray with promises that I'd quit eating candy. And just for hopes of further help from the "Gods", I'd also say I was sorry for beating up my brothers. It was a terrible experience and I have never gotten over it – as you can tell by how vivid this memory is!!!
This past week, as our conference, I told a story about Innovation and Dentist - a story that I'll retell next Blog - but when I was done, many people came up and told me their terrible childhood dentist stories. Barb Sagsveen from Farmer's Union of Mohall, North Dakota, told me that these past few weeks, she was having a terrible pain in her mouth, didn't go to the dentist when she should have because of the same fear driven feeling that I have, and when she finally did, was told her wisdom teeth are coming in. Barb is the young age of ..... oh wait, that's right....39!! Anyway, when such a "young" person gets their wisdom teeth later in life, it's very painful!!
Check back next week for part two of three parts to this dentist story!!! There is much more to come....
Keep smiling and show those pearly whites!!
Michelle
