TMI about MST

The following may be too much information for some, but for many of you I know it’s very much worth sharing. This is a little delayed, but a few weeks ago all volunteers from my intake Group 73, had to attend our MST (Mid-Service Training). This is where we have a workshop in a useful topic with a Tongan Counterpart we bring. Along with that, this is the time that we all go to Doctors to be checked out and checked off in all kinds of ways necessary to ensure that our health is not compromised (excluding sanity).
First on the list: dentist. My teeth have been more sensitive than usual lately; I think I need more fluoride in my life. Anyway, I go to the dentist and he’s a very nice Tongan gentleman who motions me to the chair and I comply, sit, lay back and he proceeds to explore my mouth. Starting at the top right he starts to count out loud and says, “Oh, this one is missing, they must have taken it out.” He keeps going, and proceeds to inform me of every missing tooth as if it’s his duty to let me know that someone has raided my mouth without my knowledge, possibly drugged in the night, you never know with these things. I almost felt that he expected at any moment I would raise up in shock “Are you shitin’ me?”
But of course, as you can imagine, I was well aware that I do not have the same amount of teeth that was given me for my life’s journey, and couldn’t help to feel that this dentists performance was a little lack luster. When he was finished with role call he said, “Ok you don’t need cleaning, all finished.” I quickly said as politely as I could that my teeth were bothering me and I wanted to make sure I didn’t have a cavity or anything. He said okay and touched the soar spots with the scrapper thingy, then blew air on them with the air blower thingy, and I squealed as if he jabbed a toothpick in my eye. “Well you have sensitivity.”
The man should have his own T.V. show he’s so damn good. “Looks like you’re not brushing correctly; your gums are moving away and exposing the roots.” He took out the giant novelty teeth and toothbrush they used in 1^st grade to teach oral hygiene. So not only does he think I can’t brush my teeth but thinks it best to bring out the pre-school toys as to not move too fast for me. I mean who can blame him; I obviously need help if someone keeps taking my teeth. When he was finished with the demonstration I could see his point, his explanation made sense…at least it will until my teeth drop from my mouth and then I really will start to wonder what the hell happened to my teeth.

Then there’s the physical. We went to a clinic that I went to back in November, so they have a record. They asked for my surname. That’s easy enough; “Gentry.” She can’t find it. “What’s your name again?” Easy question, easy answer, “Shannon Gentry.” She looks and finds nothing. “Surname is Gentry or Shannon?” Sigh…You know what, let me spare you the next five minutes or so of this, she finally found my card when she looked for Shannon, Gentry and yet still asked me if my first name was Gentry. The check up checked out, and I was done! So I thought…

Later that week there was another checkup. The one all the ladies know about. The inevitable yearly exam that doesn’t exactly bring excited anticipation with it. I don’t have to say what it is, you know.
I walk into the same clinic I was just at a week prior. Same lady asked for my surname with my first, and can’t find me again. Of course again the key was looking for someone named Gentry Shannon and not Shannon Gentry. I waited to be called back. “GENTRY” and I go. “Step on the scale Gentry” the nurse says with a smile. I think it’s formal but I do as she says. “Okay come in here Gentry.” Hmm okay. I Correct her “My name is Shannon Gentry.” She smiled and stuck the temperature thing in my ear and wrote on my card. “Okay Gentry…” – “Shannon” I say again. “But it says here: Gentry, Shannon” “That’s my last name and first name.”
She blankly smiled and wrote down my weight…completely wrong! I’m certainly not 170 pounds… “You can wait here for the Doctor, Gentry” and walked out. I wait. Doc comes in with gloves ready to go, and the nurse follows with her cup of tea in hand and familiar instruments in another. Wow…this is different; you’re allowed snacks with the viewing here. I’m done writing about this because I can’t imagine you want to know the rest. Gentry out.