It was going to be a busy week and I was hardly going to see Carol. That morning at the office I logged on to my Gmail account, where we keep our various appointments recorded on Google Calendar. A lifesaver for a marriage. It keeps us from having to constantly remind each other of what we’re doing—when it’s not a record of an overscheduled life.
She had a meeting Monday night, I had one Thursday night. Tuesday I’d be home late. Wednesday night we’d be together at choir rehearsal. At least Friday was free. But she’d just emailed me. A friend had invited us to have dinner because it was the first anniversary of his mom’s death. “Could we?” she asked. “Of course,” I said. God, we could both use a quiet moment together.
The next thing that happened—I’m not kidding you—was that my tooth came out. I was chewing an almond and there it was, a temporary crown in the palm of my hand. What was already a crazy week was looking to become even more complicated.
I called the dentist’s office. Could I come in at 2:30? Sure, I said. Grrr, I thought. I wrapped the crown in a napkin, put it in my pocket, rinsed out my mouth and reached for some sort of Bible verse that might save the day. “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God …?” Fat chance. I’d be better off humming, “Crown him with many crowns.”
Fortunately that afternoon I didn’t have to wait long at the dentist’s office. The assistant escorted me to a chair, clipped a bib around me and I leaned back, staring up at the ceiling. Nice to have some quiet time to myself. Hope Carol is doing something pleasant. I closed my eyes and let the world slow down.
All at once I heard a very familiar voice coming from the lobby. How could it be? I didn’t remember seeing this on Google Calendar. “Excuse me,” I said to the assistant, “I think I hear my wife.”
“Yes,” the woman said. “She has an appointment today too. Would you like to see her? The dentist won’t be ready for another five minutes.”
I got up from the chair, headed out to the lobby. “Hi, sweetie, it’s me.”
