We’ve probably all heard the saying that bad things happen in bunches; well, that has been the case for us this year in the financial arena.
We started things off by finding that for the first time in 32 years of marriage, we would not get our usual hefty tax rebate. In fact, not only would we not get a rebate, we would actually have to pay in a fairly large sum since we inadvertently didn’t withhold enough through the year.
Gulp. We took a deep breath and tightened our belts
And then one of our cars started acting up. Total miles between both of our vehicles is about 300,000 miles so “acting up” does tend to happen occasionally.
Steve fixes a lot of things on our vehicles but some things are beyond his fabulous fixing ability so into the shop we went. Hundreds of dollars later, the car is sort of, pretty much fixed but still needs another thing done and now occasionally it won’t start for no reason whatsoever. But we’re trying to put that repair off as long as we can especially since the non-starting mostly happens in cold weather.
And then? I went to my dentist for a routine cleaning and discovered that I need a crown. Do you know how much a crown costs? Eleven HUNDRED dollars! That is A LOT of money!
And here’s the other thing about the dentist. Not only do I hate paying so much money, I also hate going to the dentist in general, even for a routine cleaning. I get horribly tense at the best of (dental) times and the thought of sitting in the chair for two hours to be fitted for a crown really freaked me out.
The dentist and I also discovered during my crown fitting that I am one of those patients who needs twice as much Novocaine as most people. I got shot after shot after shot of it until I felt like my lower face was the size of a football field. Then when the dentist and his assistant got down to work, that old tension and stress started kicking in and I actually started crying right in the middle of my dental procedure. (Not actually sobbing, thankfully, but there were definitely tears in my eyes.)
To make matters even worse, I also have a strong gag reflex and whenever anyone stuffs cotton in my mouth or puts in those horrible little thingies between my teeth for taking x-rays, I have to fight my urge to . . . well…. gag. (Or worse.) Not such a fun time.
I tried to remind myself as I sat squirming and crying and (almost) gagging in the chair, how blessed I am to have excellent dental care available to me when so many people don’t. In fact, I reminded myself of that fact over and over again during the long, uncomfortable procedure and I made sure to remind myself of it again when I handed over my credit card at the end.
Happily, I have an absolutely superb dentist (and assistant) who made the whole ordeal bearable. And even better than that? The office is located right beside a huge field of marsh grass.
This is my view from the dental chair. Pretty wonderful, huh?
Every time I drive up to the office. . .
and walk toward the building . . .
I am especially thankful to live in a place that affords me such vistas–especially during tense, stressful visits to the dental chair.
The scenery is almost lovely enough to make me forget about my dental phobia. Almost.
But enough about my dentist and back to the subject of money and the title of this post, The Million Dollar Question.
Last week, Sarah and I drove Sarah’s friend, Hope, home. The two girls sat together in the back seat for the 3-hour trip spending some of their time asking each other questions out of Sarah’s favorite Book of Questions.
One of the questions was that perennial favorite, “What would you do if you won a million dollars?” I have to say I was very curious to see what the girls’ answers would be and I tuned my ears in a little closer to their conversation.
Sarah started off by saying that she would first of all tithe to the church and then she would pay off all of Nathan and Meagan’s college bills, as well as her own (soon to be coming) college expenses Then she would buy two copies of all of her favorite books and keep one copy for herself and give the second copy to thrift stores so that people could read them who couldn’t afford to buy them new.
She also said she would make a large donation to families who have kids with cancer in addition to donating to pediatric cancer research, especially since that field of research is very underfunded relative to how much money adult cancer research gets. (I was hoping to hear her say she would pay off my dental bills but alas, no mention of that . . .)
When Hope’s turn came, she also said that she would tithe to her church, pay off her and her brother’s college education and buy her mom a house in the mountains.
But then she went on to add that she would buy thousands of books and set up a Book Box in every food pantry and soup kitchen in America.
She explained very passionately that studies have shown that children from economically disadvantaged families have a harder time with school and with reading because, if parents are struggling to buy food, then they most certainly are also struggling to buy books. And since it has been proven that children who own their own books are more interested in reading than those who don’t, Hopes vision is to give away books with food.
I had the best time listening to the two girls talk and hearing the heart they both have for people going through hard times. Neither of them mentioned a shopping spree at the mall, or a new phone, or possessions or stuff; they just wanted to use their money to make a difference.
And what a difference money can make; what good it can do! It can pay a dentist or a mechanic. It can be used to buy a book or cure a cancer. It can open children’s eyes to the joy of reading and it can pay a college bill. It can buy food for the hungry and it can open doors of opportunity to those who might have lost reason to hope. Hope and Sarah’s conversation showed very clearly that even at relatively young ages, they have a clear vision of that difference
Listening to the two of them talk about money from such a happy, generous perspective was something I really needed to hear that day, with my own money frustrations piled so high. I felt privileged to get to be in on that conversation, I felt privileged to not just get to hear a Million Dollar Question but to hear two Million Dollar Answers, as well.
Love those girls!
What about you?
Do you have issues with going to the dentist?
If you won a whole bunch of money, what would YOU do with it?
If I had a million dollars (now that song is stuck in my head… thanks!)….
I would invest some, donate some to a few causes that are important to me (Alzheimer’s research, equality issues, and something that helps impoverished children), and quit my job to dedicate a full year to attempting to write a book. Which is what I’d actually like to be doing, but I keep finding reasons (*ahem* excuses *ahem*) to put it off due to the myriad tasks that take up everyday life. I’d also probably travel, since that’s my absolute favorite thing, but I don’t think I’d start doing it in a lavish, extreme manner — I’d continue the same kind of low-cost, high-adventure traveling I do now. I’d just do more of it!
I am in need of a root canal and crown!! Ugh!! I have found that the gas they give me at the dentist makes it whole lot more bearable. As a reading teacher, I love the idea of showering the world with books and those girls are absolutely right about economically disadvantaged children not doing as well in school as they do not have books. One year I offered to buy each child in my class one book from the Scholastic book order and one girl came to me with tear-filled eyes as she thanked me for her book. She had never had a book in which she could write her name. If I had a million dollars, I would start my own dog rescue and get some of those sweet babies out of pounds and off the streets.
Lisa,
Oh, I loved the story about that girl finally getting her own book to write her name in. What an impact you have had on her life!
And my commiserations to you on your need of a root canal and crown . . . my advice is to get a LOT of that gas! 🙂
Last year was “The of the Dentist” for me. A wall of a tooth with a filling split–didn’t initally seem to need a root canal, but after it was capped, a few months later the pain started. Had to have a root canal through a crown. Then two more root canals, two more crowns. I guess it was all coming, I’ve had no problems for years. No vacation last year due to the teeth.
I’m with your girls. Education and books. More options now for those without money to go to college as the democrats have made things a little bit better but unfortunately the colleges are gobbling up the largesse so only a bit trickles down to those who need it. I’m looking at college bills for a long time
And yes, we owed taxes too. Set up a HSA for yourselves –get the deduction, and then you can pay for things like dentistry out of it. That was the only saving grace–we did pay my dental bills with after tax dollars.
Cath,
Oh my. I can’t even imagine a year with so many crowns and root canals. And a root canal THROUGH a crown!!? Eek. I hope you don’t have any more dental drama for a long, long time!!
Sounds like the HSA idea is a good one; we’ll look into it!
I LOVE going to the dentist for a cleaning. I could take a nap if it wasn’t for the ever present need to keep my mouth open. I love the way my teeth feel after they are cleaned. I don’t much care about going in for other procedures but I don’t really have a problem with it either. I tend to “deal” with medical things until I can’t bear it anymore and then I go in. So by the time I go to get it taken care of I am just eager to get it done so I can feel better afterwards. 🙂
If I got a million dollars I would pay off all our debt first then pay for my kids to go to college. Then MAYBE for myself to finish college. Then I would give the rest to various charities starting with childhood cancer research and Make A Wish. I absolutely LOVE the book idea too!
Lizz,
Well, my hat is off to you for being so relaxed at the dentist that you could take a nap! Can’t even imagine. 🙂
Childhood cancer research, Make A Wish–a gal after my own heart!
Going to the dentist has never really been a big deal for me. It’s uncomfortable sure, but something I pretty easily tolerate. I sometimes tense up when I’m in the chair; I tell myself to relax and focus on keeping muscles and mind relaxed. It seems as if I’m in the minority according to the comments. Hopefully there will be persecution.
Ummm. I meant “no” persecution!
Steve,
Don’t worry, we aren’t going to persecute you for not dreading the dentist . . . we’ll just be a little envious.
I HATE dental work. My dentist keeps nagging me to have some kind of skin graft procedure on my gums because they’re receding, and my half of the bill after insurance would be $6,000! Guess what’s not happening? I also need a crown for a cracked tooth and filling that my insurance refuses to pay for, for some reason, so I guess I’ll have to suck it up and pay it myself out of pocket if I want to keep that tooth. Seems like I can never have a simple dental check up without them finding hundreds of dollars of work to be done every time!
Melissa,
Ug. I feel your pain. I also have some gum recession and I had no clue how much it would be to fix it. Thousands of dollars? No thanks. I’ll hang on to my recession, thank you very much! 🙂
A simple check up would be lovely, wouldn’t it?
WOW…IF I HAD A MILLION DOLLARS! First and foremost I would try to figure out how to give to our school system. There are so many families struggling in our city and the schools are really in need. Thinking if I could help the student/teacher ratio, it could help the kids. After school programs would also be huge. Schools are a safe place for so may families. Unlike churches, they are home to kids 5 days a week for 10 months out of the year.
Next, i believe I would want to help some of the homeless programs in our city. If I had enough money to fund a homeless shelter……..wishful thinking. Last, but not least, food bank. Our friends who are struggling need to know they can get a meal anytime.
Lauren,
I LOVE your ideas and the heart you have for people who struggle.
I agree wholeheartedly that schools can be a wonderful refuge for kids who come from tough home environments and to provide more teachers, more programs, more nurturing . . . that would be a very good thing indeed.
Teachers are my heroes and they could NEVER be paid enough to compensate them for their vital place in society.
Becky, it sounds like we are sisters financially and dentist-wise. I had to have 2 crowns and a root canal this past year. At least it boosted my medical deductions 😉 I think I hate the Novocaine more than the drilling and stretching my mouth as far or farther than is humanly possible. Like you, I have COPD, and i think my gag reflex is related to not being able to breathe very deeply. I always remind my dentist that he can’t recline the chair all the way back. He has to work a little harder, but it makes the procedures a little more bearable, since I can breathe a little better.
Jan,
Two crowns and a root canal? Yikes!! After this crown I just got, I have decided I am finished with non-routine dental visits for the next fifty years! I can only imagine the boost your medical deductions got. Nothing like looking on the bright side, right? 🙂
I hadn’t even thought about COPD being an issue in making it harder to breathe when the chair is tilted back. Interesting insight.
I used to be afraid of going to the dentist, but now I LOVE my dentist!!!!!!!!! He was my husband’s dentist, and the first time I went to him, he came in on his day off to take care of my tooth ache. I have the gag reflex,too! When I have major work to be done, I take a stuffed animal to squeeze and hug.
I had a root canal last year, and had NO pain! When I had my first root canal, many moons ago, it actually took over a year before I could chew on that side. Sorry to hear about your crown.
I often dream of what I would do with $$$$$$$$…. definitely giving to the church, to pediatric cancer research, and to some of my Pen Pals who are struggling financially.
I love knowing that the girls would buy books. I hadn’t thought of that, but what a wonderful idea!!!!
Mrs. Pam,
So happy to hear someone who is so happy with their dentist!
I can’t imagine having a root canal and not being able to chew on that side for a year! So glad your second canal experience was such a good one–hooray for you!! (And I love your stuffed animal idea.)
Becky,
After over two and a half years of extreme dental drama I still dread the dentist chair more than any other thing in my life! Crazy pills (low dose Xanax) helps more than I can say, but then I don’t like the way they make me feel. Still they make me able to walk through the office door and sit in the chair. I have a very small mouth so I understand both the tears and the gagging. I am so glad to have all that work behind me!
Cindy from Sonoma
Cindy,
You are definitely the Queen of the Dental Chair! And we Smiths are very proud of you for sticking it out when it was so very hard. Good for you!!!
I am having a root canal tomorrow… ugh.. I don’t really mind the dentist too much, but can’t say it’s one of favorite things to do. Sarah and Hope are amazing in how they would spend the money.. not many people think like that. I would pay off all my debt and my 3 kids’ college loan debt. They I would donate to children’s cancer research and help local children in our hospital get the things they need. If I was super rich I would by a house in the south to get away from these horrible CENtral New York winters!
Michele,
Well, hopefully by the time you read this your appointment will be over! I’ve never had a root canal but the very words tend to strike terror to my heart. I hope it goes well and is non-traumatic.
Love your idea of helping local children in the hospital get the things they need. Such a practical, compassionate idea.
bout the dentist. I have a wonderful one most of my life, my BRO is law is one and when he retired I found another good one. BUT< I get sick to my tummy just thinking about the appointment, now I take something to calm me down didn't for years Once I am there and have the shot I am pretty ok with the work they do.
as for money: I would pay off all my kids debts for them, give a huge amount to someplace. not sure where yet, books at foodbanks sounds like a good idea and money to the food bank too. I would find me a nice little apartment some where on the ground floor where I could have a pet for company, I actually haven't thought much about it so all that might change if I had it
Sharon,
Sounds like you’ve had a good experience with dentists though the years–nice to have had one in the family!
A little apartment with a pet for company sounds like a lovely, simple idea. Love it!
Nitrous Oxide. It’s a life- saver for me when I go to the dentist. He lets me use it even for cleanings. He says I’m not the only “member of that club”. Really, it helps a lot.
Kim,
I’d never really considered Nitrous Oxide; just did a little reading up about it since I knew very little. I know that I can make it through a crown fitting without it but I think that if I ever had to have a root canal,I would consider using it.
I need to have 2 crowns replaced and a filling in another tooth. One of the crowns popped off on Saturday night, so I can’t put it off any longer. Did I mention that getting new crowns means I will also need a new set or retainers? Thankfully, I have gooddental insurance that should cover 50% of the cost for the crowns and even more for the filling. I’m going to check on the retainers, but I suspect I’ll be paying out of pocket for those.
Leah,
Ooh, that sounds disconcerting to have a crown just pop off! I hope you were able to stick it back on!
Glad you have some insurance to help with two crowns and a filling–that’s a lot of dental work!
About 18 months ago, I had to have root canal and crown on the same tooth. Fortunately my dentist makes crowns in his office so I didn’t have to have the “yucky” impressions made that I’ve had in the past. Unfortunately I had several shots of Novocain and they still weren’t doing the trick. I ended up getting a shot inside my tooth – OUCH! Needless to say, I was in some pain that night and pain pills and I don’t do well. I decided I did need to take one and regretted it afterwards. Since then I have reached out to a pharmacist friend to ask what I should take in the future since codeine and its derivatives don’t do well with me. I think I was in the chair about three hours – not the way I wanted to spend my morning.
If I won a million dollars, I would give money to a young couple in my mom and dad’s church who are moving to Germany this year to be missionaries. I already support them but not to this amount of course. Then I would buy my parents a more elderly friendly house. Would probably donate some to the Children’s Cancer Center here in Tampa – they’re my favored charity.
Phyllis,
I can’t quite imagine a shot IN my tooth. Ouch and ouch again. That was smart thinking to contact a pharmacist about what to use in the future so you have a good way of dealing with that pain!
How wonderful to read about that young couple going to Germany for a year. What an adventure for them–one that will change their lives and also the lives of the people they minister to.
Becky, I know what you are talking about when it comes to novocaine and gag reflexes! It is unfortunate that you don’t live near a university dental school, which would give you a better price to have the crown done. We went that route for some expensive work my husband needed that we just couldn’t afford.
Sorry to hear about your financial issues – why does it seem that money woes do come in groups?
Liz,
Yeah, our nearest university dental school would be about 2 1/2 hours away but I imagine they would save you a ton of money. How wonderful that you have one close by!
Sorry to hear of the dentist visit, the scenario is just the same as I would feel. ( I can tell we are related for sure.) It is a major “trying of my faith” to place myself in that horrid chair and submit to its many woes. I encourage myself in the faith by singing psalms and hymns to myself, without stopping until I am released from the “chair” and go out into the bright beautiful world, as one released from prison. (Praise be to God!) There are many ways in this life the Lord brings us to rely on Him and dwell in His grace and mercy;even for such things as, going to the dentist. (God help him! And me!) Ruth
Ruth,
I think I remember dad talking about really bad experiences he had with a dentist when he was a boy. Of course, back then the dental procedures were not as well developed as they are now. I’m certainly thankful to be living now and not seventy years ago when it comes to dentistry!
Love your idea of singing hymns to yourself–that would be very calming and comforting.