Mom has a beautiful smile. She always has. Dad said that was one of the first things that caught his eye (and his heart.) She still loves smiling, although sometimes it is tricky to engage her. She was awake most of the day with me today and I spent a lot of time trying to make her laugh. It made me think of the great song “Smile.” It was the soundtrack for my day, an earworm of sorts.
Smile though your heart is aching
Smile when your heart is breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you’ll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow You’ll see the sun come shining through for you
I must have heard that song a hundred times as I was growing up. I think Nat King Cole sings it best. (Listen here.) To me, it’s a very melancholy song, even though it has an optimistic set of lyrics. Charlie Chaplin wrote the music as background for one of his moviess in 1936. In 1954, lyrics were added. Many artists have recorded it: Martina McBride, Barbara Streisand, Tony Bennett and others. While researching it, I found it was one of Michael Jackson’s favorites.
A few weeks ago, Dad and I took Mom to get her teeth cleaned. It had been almost six months since we last got her out of the house and more than two years since going to the dentist. I worried for weeks about it. I knew we were going to have to do some tough transfers and was especially concerned about moving her to the dentist chair and back to her wheelchair. Thankfully, it all went without incident. It’s tricky, but not impossible with two people.
Unfortunately, she has two cavities, one on each side of her lower set. It will take two visits to fill them since it will require numbing. I’m not sure how it will go. I don’t think she’ll understand but, she did so well for the cleaning, I hope she will cooperate. It helps that she loves Laura, her hygienist. Laura is patient and kind. I am grateful for her!
My first thought about the cavities was not to have them filled. Laura reminded me that Mom really wouldn’t understand a toothache, so I guess we have two more dentist visits in the future.
We all know how important it is to smile. There are hundreds of quotes and proverbs about smiling and Mom could have written most of them. “A smile is the same in every language.” “Use your smile to change the world; don’t let the world change your smile.” Stay strong, make them wonder how you’re still smiling.” “Peace begins with a smile.” “Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person.” Her favorite was “If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours.”
Mom’s smile is one of my favorite things. She can light up a room. Although it takes a great deal of effort to pull one out of her on some days, it’s worth it.
Remember: “You’re never fully dressed without a smile.” (Another earworm. You are welcome!)
