Wearing PJs to the Dentist

Authored by Olivia

    Recently I had to go straight from work to the dentist's office in my work outfit, which happened to be an extremely well-thought-out and detailed Pajama Day look. Emerald green sleep set with pink accent on the hem, slippers, robe, eye mask- everything. I love pajama day.

    One other person is in the waiting room with me and she’s sitting across from me, facing me. Her eyes travel from my slippers to my robe with almost a concerned look. I roll my eyes about a million times because I’m no stranger to old people hating my looks. Even though today I had a very valid reason to be dressed in such a way. (I work at a preschool.)

    So I’m waiting, stewing in my rebellion of this lady’s disapproving gaze. “My God woman, where’s your childhood whimsy? Where’s your sense of wonder and fun?” I thought to myself, obsessively. 

  

    Those thoughts abruptly silence she stands up and pulls out a retractable cane with a ping pong ball at the end. She was blind.

    Goddammit. She was blind the whole time. I couldn't suppress the shame on my face even though no one else present was privy to the storyline and judgment that had been playing out in my head.

    I soon understood the piercing stare from this woman was actually that of concern after she told the receptionist that she had just remembered she would not, in fact, be able to come in when they had scheduled her next and she needed to move the appointment. Soon a caregiver from a dial-a-ride transit service arrived to help her return home.

    I felt awful, stuck with all this heated defensiveness I conjured up for no real reason. 

    We learn so much when we’re young but we can’t understand things like “don’t judge a book by its cover” until we live experiences where our understanding or empathy can change if we are paying attention.