My alarm goes off while JG is in the kitchen getting breakfast. Instead of pressing snooze for the first of three times how I normally would, I turn the buzzer off and stumble in the dark toward the bathroom. Squinting in the sudden incandescent glare of the vanity bulbs, I fumble for my contacts case and blink my lenses into place. I take a look at my haggard reflection in the mirror. Man, I look bad.
I step back into the hazy darkness of the bedroom, pull on jeans and a hoodie, and root around for socks. In an odd ritual of vanity, I brush my hair, asking myself wryly who exactly I’m trying to impress as I’m walking the dog. I trudge up to the front door to pull on a coat and tie a scarf (it’s chilly despite the bizarre forecast for temperatures in the sixties today), and Ted peers at me through the metal grid in his crate. The puppy comes with me, and we both say goodbye to JG. He’ll have left for school by the time we come back. Usually, JG comes to say goodbye to me while I am waiting for Snooze Button Push #3. But not today.
I take Ted on our normal route; we stop to greet Friday, a yellow Lab. My bleary eyes see white halos around every street lamp; my sneakers scuff on the sidewalk. It’s quiet in the neighborhood with the exception of idling cars, puffing out clouds of white exhaust. Ted starts after a neighbor’s cat and jerks the leash in my hand. I shush him, and we make our way back home.
I fly through showering and dressing, but there’s no time for make-up, so I toss the case in my work bag. I glance at the clock; I’m four minutes behind schedule, despite my unclaimed snoozes. I jump into the car, unsuccessfully attempt to get the morning mist off the windows by rolling them down, and drive off. I’m three minutes late when I arrive at my destination, and I trot up briskly to the receptionist desk, where a chipper girl in scrubs confirms the reason for my early wake-up call:
“Hi! We’re doing two fillings this morning, right?”
Sigh. Yes, we are.
7 comments
Torsten always wakes me up on his way out the door to work. It’s the best way to wake up. Also, I’m so sorry about the dentist. It’ll be over soon!
Yep, JG wakes me up more fully when he’s on his way out, but I admit that I don’t always quite remember those interactions from severe sleepiness.
Hate the dentist. But hopefully all goes well!
I hate the dentist, too, but everything went as well as it could have.
OUCH. I hope it’s painless.
My dentist looked at the location of my cavities and said, “This one is on the border between topical anesthetic and Novocaine, so let’s just go with the topical and see how it goes.” Um, no. Give me the Novocaine, you sadist. I was happily pain-free for the rest of the time.
I hate mornings. I hate them so very, very much. And somehow, even when I get out of bed “on time” (after 1-2 snoozes, instead of my usual 3-4… or 5) I still leave the house late, somehow.
I know exactly what you mean. I don’t hate mornings so much as waking up to an alarm. If I could wake up naturally at 6:30, I would be fine with that.
Uh, I hate the dentist. I’ve never had to have a filling or anything - the worst I’ve had are braces. I hope it goes well and that you get lots of pampering when you get home!
Oh, I envy your strong teeth! Hm, I will have to get on JG about that pampering bit, though…
Aww boo! You had to wake up early to go to the DENTIST? That’s terrible.
I know. It’s like, see this wound? Please, rub some salt in it for me.
The morning sounded pretty awesome… right up until you mentioned the dreaded dentist. Ick!
Ugh, mornings with alarms going off are never awesome for me. An awesome morning means waking up naturally, pancakes, and nothing to have to do!
Leave a comment