How I Celebrated the Moon Festival

Today should be a day of eating. At least to me. I didn't think when I booked my dentist appointment that it would fall on the same day as the Moon Harvest Festival. Sweaty palms, and fear the dentist was intermingled with dreams of moon cake and tea.

The reason? The second of two appointments to repair fillings. For those who don't know me, I am terrified of needles. I scare myself days in advance at the impending possibility of having to take a needle. My heart rate quickens at the thought of it, and for someone who is willing to just get stuff over with, instead I was entertaining thoughts of backing out and rescheduling the appointment for another day. My secret wish is to have someone hold my hand while I get a needle.

This time my dentist was more sly-- as I was lying down, she was swabbing my mouth with an unknown blue gel, and sat there with her right hand hidden.

"Doctor, what is that in your hand?" I struggled to try and get a peak.

"It's nothing dear. Just lie back and relax. Just relax..."

"It's a needle isn't it? It's a needle." I was gripping the arm rests until my knuckles were white.

"Patricia, I gave you a needle when we fixed the first filling. This time is no different"

I relaxed. She was right. Same as last time. Last time was okay. So I relaxed, opened my mouth and after a few pep talks on not looking at the needle she finally inserted it into my cheek.

"Now Patricia, this one is slightly different, it's going to freeze half of your mouth, your lips, and most likely your tongue" I let out a loud hrmp? A whadda you mean mumble! She kept on asking if I was feeling numb and I replied no. We did that a few times as she continued to inject me with whatever it is she used. After the third time of answering not numb yet, she pulled out and commented that sometimes people react more slowly. I'm not sure if sleepiness was a side effect, but my eyelids were heavy and I struggled to stay awake. The procedure itself was okay, not a problem. Save for the second I think I did fall asleep.

And so I went home, face frozen stiff, saliva dribbling out of the side of my mouth, all to see my parents eating dinner. The smell of food made my tummy growl. Oh the pain! Have mercy! I decided to go buy some safety shoes while the numbness went away. Last time it only took about an hour. However two and a half hours later I still can't feel my face. Two hours of dribbling, two hours of hunger, two hours of gagging on my tongue and not being able to swallow! Perhaps the dentist injected too much into me? Aiiiyeee!