The last quarter of the year is always difficult for Sheppard House. Every October our necessary obligations escalate into an avalanche that clogs the family calendar until January. Every year we get a little better at taming the holiday schedule. This year our deft family management ushered in the tranquility that accompanies the new year nearly a month early. Elise even managed to apply some of the slack in the schedule to whittle through some items we placed on the back burner. Among them was dental appointments.
As the dental hygienist made conversation she made a passing mention at the volume of business the dentist oversees near Christmas. She could not understand why so many people scheduled dental appointments around the holidays. I politely explained that dentists were in a service industry, yet they work the same hours as their clients. Hence, the clients must use their time off to schedule service. I compared it to banks, who have recently begun to change their schedules. Although my point was valid I probably should have held my tongue until she was finished wielding those sharp instruments in my mouth. Mental note: dental hygienists are very protective of their office hours.