In Which My Son Almost Goes to the Dentist and I Get Test Results

My son, Michael, needs braces. Badly. So badly that he's finally come to that realization himself. Today, I took Michael to his dentist appointment, without which you can't get a referral to an orthodontist, and no orthodontist means no braces.

We showed up for the apt and filled out the paperwork. Unfortunately, they couldn't find him in the insurance system, but said he should be there next month, so we rescheduled for next month. So that was Michael almost going to the dentist.

As we were walking into the dentist, I got a phone call from a number that didn't identify itself but seemed vaguely familiar. I answered it and it was my gynecologist. They got the results from pap test that I had done a couple of weeks ago, and it came back abnormal. They need to retest me again in three months. They assured me that it's probably nothing, but they need to retest to be sure.

Chances are very good that it will go away on its own. I'm not Cleopatra (the queen of denial) however, so I will be going back for follow up testing which will let me know if I need to do something more.

I'm shaken, but not stirred. I will intermittently worry about this for the next three months. I will stop acting as though I have all the time in the world to do all the things I want to do. (Honesty compels me to add, "At least, I hope I will".)

I also hope that all the women reading this will make sure to get their pap test done. No it's not fun, but it's very important. And just so the men out there don't feel left out, please urge the special women in your lives to get their pap tests done, too.