My sister is here visiting us for a week from Pennsylvania (can you say “snowbird”?). She arrived yesterday and so we took it easy on her – no huge parties or outrageous activities planned. We had clam chowder and a baguette for dinner, and some wine. Apparently a little too much wine as she forgot that she had a temporary crown in her mouth and managed to loosen it so much gnawing on pieces of the baguette that it fell out. Luckily she managed to retrieve it, and even better her dentist had sent her West with a small packet of tooth cement. She came downstairs and asked if we could help her. Chuck, a frustrated doctor/mad scientist/building contractor, ever ready to whip out his tools and get to work, immediately headed off to his work shed. Louise and I pondered what in the world he might be getting there – a drill perhaps, or a jigsaw, or maybe a miter saw? He came back into the house with nothing less than a dental pick and mirror. Talk about the right tools for the job! We asked him why in the world he had a dental pick, and his answer was that it was a great tool for working on computers. Now I’ve worked on computers some, but I can’t say it has ever occurred to me to use a dental pick. Oh well. Once he donned his LED headlamp, sterilized the pick over the stove and then burned his fingers picking up the now red hot pick, he was ready to go to work. The look of concern on my sister’s face as Chuck apporached her with his headlamp on and the dental pick in hand was pretty classic. He plopped her in our Barcalounger, pushed the seat back and went to work on her. A minute or so later the tooth was re-cemented in and she was ready for action.

While not as exciting as removing stitches, it was clear Chuck had had a great time. Can’t say the same for my sister. But her husband was very impressed, although not as surprised as we were that Chuck had exactly the right tools for the job. I guess it’s a guy thing.