They have started doing this new thing at my excellent dentist's office.

While the numbing drug is being injected into your gum, one of the dental assistants pats you on the shoulder. The idea is to take your mind off what is happening in your mouth.

After the first time they did that earlier this month, I said I wasn't sure it really made much of a difference but I appreciated the thought.

And yesterday I was thinking the same thing when I realized something. While I was getting the numbing shot and the assistant was patting me on the shoulder, my mind was elsewhere. I was thinking about how my accountant sister-in-law would be counting the shoulder pats. How many were we up to? Should I start counting now?

So maybe if I was thinking about that, the distraction ploy worked after all.

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