A lot to do about nothing

Hey all,

Yep, I am now Forty. And it sucks.
Thank you all for the nice birthday wishes. Let me count how many people commented...one, two, three....carry the one....NONE.
I so appreciate our friendship, but I have to tell you it is kind of one sided.

I am almost done with the book Twilight. I have to ask, what have I done to deserve these last two books.
This book reads like a 12 year old wrote it. I mean how many times do I have to read that she thinks Edward is good looking. Alright already.
I am on page 390 and nothing, I mean nothing has really happened in this book. Why me?

I have seen a couple of movies since we spoke last. I usually hit the movie rental place at the airport (speaking of...we got to the airport three hours before our flight. We are not taking any chances. If you don't know what I am talking about please read previous blogs on bad traveling).
Lets see,
I saw Fireproof. I don't know about this one. It is kind of like me and the University of Florida. If the Gators are on and I am rooting for them. To me they can't do anything wrong.
This movie is a Christian movie and I am suppose to say that it can't do anything wrong. As a witness movie I thought it was great.
As a movie, the acting was so so and the plot was so so.
We also got a comedy Step Brothers. It sucked. I am sorry, I like Will Ferrel but I don't think I laughed once.
Then I saw Enemy at the Gates. This movie was with Ed Harris and Jude Law and it was pretty good. Jude Law is a Russian sniper that is becoming a national hero, in WWII, by knocking off nazis. So the Germans bring in their best sniper to sniper the sniper, if you know what I mean. And a cat and mouse game ensues.
Then I saw Body of Lies. Russel Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio. They are a team trying to bust up a terrorist ring in Jordan. Now how believable is Leonardo as the American that now lives and Jordan and now speaks the language.
It was pretty good. Nothing earth shattering.

As you may know I went to Chicago this weekend. It was 10 decrees all weekend. It snowed.
Did I tell you it was 10 decrees? That is fricking cold.
I went to Chicago for a Joint Council Meeting for the AGD. Have I told you I am on the Technology and Web Council? Does that sound important or what?
It is two straight days of meetings. We meet to talk about how to make the AGD better. How to advocate better. How to communicate the message of the AGD better to its members. How to get younger people in the AGD....things like this.
It is a long week, but good.
Good things happening at the AGD.

Well, you know Dentistry from the Heart was about two weeks ago. And everyday since something something has happened. We have received countless "Thank you" cards. Funny thing is some of the people we received cards from didn't even come that day. We have received cards from people we have worked, we have received cards from family members we worked on. We have received cards from our patients just saying how great it was.
We received cards from the volunteers. I have received a couple of calls from my patients just calling to say they know what I did and they feel honored to come to a dentist office like we have.
Man that is nice.
We have even received gifts of money. Like people just wanting to donate. We have received so much money that we opened up a bank account called DFTH, to help with next year.

I want to share with you one card that was sent.
I am going to write it word for word.
It was a thank you card. The card itself said, "thanks for the care you give".
But the person wrote around this...
"I was not sure what to expect as I drove the forty-five minute drive from Orlando to Apopka. It was 5:30am and I was having second thoughts about going. I was afraid that I would be treated as an underprivileged human being, begging for dental care. But thankfully the opposite was true. As I waited several hours to be seen, I met some wonderful people, whom just like me, have lost their job and never have had the luck to have a dental plan.
When I entered your office I was greeted with respect and dignity. I remember thinking what wonderful people you and your son must be to offer this great service once a year. I was seen by Dr. Eric Meeker. He was wonderful. He took the time to talk to me and even pulled the two wisdom teeth that were shifting my top teeth forward.
From the bottom of my heart I want to thank you and your staff for giving of your time and gifts to others. I pray that you will have a prosperous year."
Love,
Millie

What can I say? When I am having I bad day I just pick up this card and read it. It makes me well up every time but it puts it all into perspective.
I mean what was she thinking on the way here. She probably never has needed this kind of gift before. She was in such a need but almost didn't come because their was this voice inside her head saying that when someone gives you something you have to lose your dignity to receive it.
This is powerful stuff.

I am going to stop there.
Have a great rest of the week and I will talk to you on Friday.
john