Loyalty

"My undying fealty to you sir!"

I have a condition called extreme loyalty.  

Maybe it was the way I was brought up to always respect authority that led to this lifelong condition I have of extreme loyalty.  Wether my loyalty is to friends who have let me down, or a job that is no longer good for me or even a barber that doesn't cut my hair the way I like my hair cut.

I have a big problem changing my loyalty to whoever I happen to be attached to at the moment.

My last test of loyalty was changing barbers.  I had to change barbers because my old barber was only on duty a few days a week.  Plus, she is located down the ever more dangerous Route One (the deadly main thoroughfare to Rehoboth Beach which has already claimed three lives this season).  

I finally made the break last month and started to see a new barber in Lewes.  She cuts my hair just as well plus I have lessened my exposure to the Mad Max drivers on Route One.  Mission accomplished although I continue to feel guilty by abandoning my barber Gail without so much as a "Goodbye."  I just know she tears up whenever she thinks of my absence. 

Now my latest test is changing dentists.  I have a perfectly good dentist located even further down Route One.  He is an excellent dentist, perhaps the best I've ever had. He always keeps my appointments on time.  His office is spotless.  His equipment (dental) is state of the art and up to date.  He is friendly and takes time to talk to me.  I only have two problems with him.  HE.IS.EXPENSIVE.  Buy hey, I think most dentists are expensive.  The other problem is that his office doesn't submit my insurance claims.  I have to deal directly with the insurance company myself which over the past two years has been extremely frustrating.  Either they make my payment directly to his office (which they have done numerous times) or they claim they haven't received my claim.  I just had to call them again this morning about a May 23rd, claim.  

A few weeks ago my co-worker told me of a new dental office he had some of his dental work. He mentioned that not only were the dentists cute (we're both gay, we like good-looking men working on our mouths - what can I say?) but more important was their office is located in Milton, only a few miles up the road.

I love Milton.  I like to do business in Milton.  So close, easy parking and stress free driving UP Route One, away from the madness of the Horde going south on Route One to Rehoboth and destinations beyond.  Plus, and this is a big PLUS, they submit the dental insurance paper work.  

So folks, I'm considering changing dentists but that old guilty feeling is sweeping over me again.  What will my old dentist think when I tell him I'm seeing a new dentist? 

Help me get rid of this guilty feeling!

The Smile is Back!

Ever since the filling fell out of my front tooth last week, I’ve been restricting my smiles. I have to admit it has been a little difficult because I’m the type of guys who smiles easily and I have the smile wrinkles to prove it.




This past Saturday I worked the front desk at the hotel. Just my luck the hotel was totally occupied with guests. We were sold out. Our hotel has a complimentary breakfast. To get to the breakfast the guests have to walk by the front desk. Guess whose all cherry smiles in the morning at the front desk to greet the guests first thing? If you guessed it was the writer of this blog, you would be correct.



A few times I forget and gave my normal, “Hello! How are you! Wide open Ron Special Smile (I do have a nice smile, everyone tells me so.) Maybe it was my imagination but I did detect a few recoils as I displayed the big hole in my front tooth. From there on out I tried to greet with a closed mouth but it wasn’t easy. In fact, greeting someone with a closed mouth is like a drunk trying to act sober. You only make it worse. I’m sure many of the guests thought I had the typical Sussex County native teeth and I was trying to hide it. Maybe I’m over thinking this whole thing.



Well, the problem was solved this morning. I couldn’t wait for the appointment my regular dental practice set for me next month, so I tried a new dentist in Rehoboth. This dentist has been recommended to me by several people whose opinion I respect.



With trepidation I headed out south on the rain soaked Route 1 to Rehoboth Beach. My new dentist’s name is Dr. Curtis Leciejewski. The pronunciation of that name will get some getting used to. Ironically the two previous dentists I’ve had for most of my life had very similar sounding names which were very easy to pronounce. Dr. Keil and Dr. KIing. Can you believe it? It’s true. For many years I used a Dr. Keil in Philadelphia. Then when Dr. Keil retired I used Dr. Kling in Downingtown, PA. My latest dentist was an HMO dentist, Dr. Patel. This is all probably very boring to most of the readers of this blog but I thought it was worth mentioning. I’ve always found names fascinating.



Well, all my fears were unfounded. Dr. Leciejewski and his staff were superb. There were absolutely outstanding in their friendliness, listening to me and efficiently and professionally resolving my tooth problem. Plus, they’re very close to where I live so now I won’t have to make that 39 mile one way trip to Dover to see my dentist. I didn’t feel like I was on an assembly line with Dr. Leciejewski. I think it is important to be treated as a person instead of a widget.



I now have my smile back. Watch out folks, Ron is back!

Dental Floss

Yesterday, after I finished my blog posting, I called my HMO dental office in Dover to arrange an appointment to fix my front tooth that is now missing a filling.



I suspected this would not be an easy request.  I was right. It wasn’t easy. First thing the woman in the dental office says to me is how busy they are in the office and then tells me to hold. Now I’m on hold…..for a long time.



She comes back on the phone and I explain to her that a filling fell out of my front tooth and when is the earliest I could see a dentist. She asks me which doctor I use. I don’t remember. It’s a HMO office. She checks and then reads off a list of names. I recognize the name “Patel” and tell her “That’s the one.” She tells me to hold again. Now I’m on hold……again…..for a long time.



She comes back on the phone. She tells me the earliest that Dr. Patel can see me is April 5th. Almost a month away! So I’m going to go snaggle toothed (which is NOT a good look for a front desk clerk at an upscale boutique hotel) for the next month.



I’m a reasonable person and I try to understand these things so I agree. However, once off the phone I’m thinking. “Why can’t I use another doctor in this HMO office?” After all, with an HMO I don’t have a choice of doctors.



I call back. I get the same woman. I ask her if I could have another doctor. She cuts me off with a curt “That’s the earliest Dr. Patel can see you!” By her tone of voice I can tell there is no margin for any other option. I have no choice. Socialized medicine. The end of the world. Bye, bye.



I make inquiries about using another dentist. A Rehoboth dentist comes to mind. He has been recommended to me several times. However, if I use him it would be an out of pocket expense for me because he doesn’t accept insurance. I decide to go for it.



I make the call. A woman named Diane answers the phone. Unlike my previous phone call, she doesn’t tell me how busy they are in their office that morning. She takes the time to listen to me. I don’t feel rushed. I explain my situation and asked when is the earliest I can make an appointment to fix my tooth. She checks the doctor’s schedule and asked me if I could come in Monday. Well, now this is more like it. I made the appointment.



I’m one of the believers that I think health care in this country needs a drastic overhaul. But, I can understand those who are concerned about “socialized” medicine. I’m fortunate in that I could a doctor of my choice when my HMO assigned doctor wasn’t available on a timely basis for me. What would have happened if I had broken my tooth and I was in pain? Wait a month until it was convenient for the doctor’s schedule?

Mortimer Snerd signing off.