Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma

Kicking It: a year later

It has been a year since I began this column. If you recall, I started exercising in August 2019 in preparation for my gala European 75th birthday trip, which we know fell flat on its face due to the coronavirus pandemic.

After six months of idling, parts of me are drooping and re-expanding, which means it is high time I get back to the gym. The very reason I asked my trainer Kellen to meet with me before the end of the month.

On a whole different topic, did I ever mention I am squeamish? When a spider scurries up the wall, I shudder. When a lizard squiggles across the sidewalk, I jump. When I see a small rodent, I shudder, jump and shriek.

When I see a child come at me wiggling his front tooth, I shudder, jump, shriek and cringe. I also look for an escape.

Yet, my 6-year-old grandson kept pushing his face into mine, wiggling his front tooth back and forth and begging me to pull it.

In my defense, I tried. I even knotted dental floss around his front tooth and gave it a yank. Twice, it didn’t work. The internet lied again.

I have no defense. Loose teeth rank right up there with spiders, lizards and mice. I have never knowingly killed anything. Living on the farm, it was understood if you hit an animal while driving you lose your privilege; therefore, I am one of those drivers who swerves to miss an animal in the road.

As it turns out, this child seems to be rapidly developing into a capitalist. His stimulus package comes by way of the Tooth Fairy. This kid is so motivated by profit he is willing to wiggle his way to a fortune. After all, each baby tooth is worth a dollar.

Which is why I gave him a dollar to not make me pull his tooth.

And then I wondered if I did him an injustice. He got money without producing the goods. Is this the reason children today think they are due everything free? They expect free money without putting forth the effort?

After all, a week later, he still has his front tooth.

P.S. Here is a special shout out to the contractors at the Estancia Senior Living building site at South Mission Road and Rocky Crest. I am so grateful for temporarily filling the massive potholes.

Elizabeth Youngman-Westphal can be reached at [email protected].

 

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