What does a sissy bar and the dentist have in common? Nothing. However, every time I go to the dentist(I went Thurs this week) I think about the sissy bar my dad had on his 1978 FX Shovel. This is good, so if you have a minute hang out and enjoy this story…
Let me give you some background on the story first. My teeth have always been MEGA sensitive. Not sure why. I haven’t had a dentist ever give me a definitive answer. One once told me that my nerve ending are longer than other and another has told me they are most likely located in a different spot than they should be. Regardless, every dentist visit I have ever had I feel pain no matter how much numbing agent is applied. It is always a horrible experience with a several day recovery for the simplest procedure.
With the background in place let’s get to the story.
When I was around 8 years old my fathers only vehicle was his 78’ Harley Davidson Shovelhead. So, when I needed to go to the dentist and my mother was occupied at work at an undisclosed desert street testing corvettes my Dad became the only option. I actually loved it because it meant I was picked up early from school in front of all my friends by my Dad on his HD. At 8 years old it made me feel like a hells angel.
My pops took me to the dentist that day and the pain began. After the dentist had to stop 4 times to apply more Lidocaine. It fair to say I had more than my body could handle. Cavities where filled and I stood up and went to the front office for my father to square up the bill before departure. This is when it gets a little fuzzy. I remember standing by dad and then boom, blank. The next thing I know, I’m on the floor with people standing around me asking if I’m alright. I see my Dad puzzled in the background scratching his head. Why did he look so confused, I thought to myself. Turns out all that fizzy lifting juice the Dr had shot into my jaw was too much for my little body to swing and I passed out. I was looped and couldn’t quit hold my head up straight let alone walk.
Once I got outside I realized why my pops was baffled. How was he going to get me home??? I could almost see the lightning bolt hit my Father when it all came together. He sat me on his bike pressed me back against the sissy bar and looped 3 bungee cords around me securing me to the sissy bar. I don’t remember much of the ride home just that I must have looked a bit like a dog with drool flying out of the side of my mouth as my head hung to the left.
To this day I still hate the dentist. I also can’t help but think about Shovelheads and Sissy bars when my jaw is getting pumped full of bye-bye sauce.
If I didn’t believe in guardian angels before that day I certainly did after.
