--Aldous Huxley

I spent today not doing the dozens of things I need to do. I didn't deposit money into my checking account; I didn't pay my credit card bill; and, most especially, I didn't go to the college campus to return a couple of long overdue library books, see the Speech Clinic people, see the Financial Aid people, and pay my student activity fees. The deadline for the last of those is Wednesday, after which all my courses get cancelled, so I've gotta get over there pronto.

Why don't I brush my teeth? The question seems to imply that there is something natural about toothbrushing; that it's second nature for all civilized people, and that not doing so breaks the norm in some way. But if you never brush your teeth, precisely the opposite is the case. The act of brushing is what breaks the usual pattern, and requires some special effort.

(Establishing such a pattern can be aided by not getting any cavities at all in one's childhood, thus lulling you into a false sense of security, and not giving you any reason to get into the habit in the first place.)

For that matter, if you haven't brushed your teeth in some time, and then you do brush, your gums tend to bleed. They're not used to that sort of treatment, and it hurts, even if you're using soft bristles. Admittedly, this is a sign that your teeth need to be brushed, but it doesn't serve as much incentive to do so.

And then there's the matter that I'm lazy... and, more to the point, I tend not to get around to things that aren't immediately necessary. As mentioned elsewhere in this journal in other connections, I tend to have two modes with regard to anything I do: "Off" and "Full Speed Ahead." Either something needs to be done now, and I take care of it, or I put it off until that last minute.

Well, tooth decay isn't the sort of thing that has firm deadlines. If I could satisfy my requirements by brushing for a couple of hours just before an annual dental appointment, I'd no doubt do that. As it stands, it's precisely the sort of thing I never get around to.

Heck, I probably wouldn't eat if it weren't for the facts that (a) I've learned my lesson about that, and (b) my body has learned to let me know when it needs fuel. Which doesn't occasionally keep me from not getting around to it for the better part of a day. As it stands, I suspect the bulk of my daily caloric intake comes from soft drinks. And, yes, I know that's not healthy, intellectually, but see the above. This does fit the pattern.

The one bright side of all this is that I like walking. And during the semester, I walk to and from college, and around the campus, so at least I get some exercise. I'd get even more if I had a bicycle, but I don't, and now that I don't live with the rest of my family, I can't even borrow my brother's. Pity; I loved biking.

You don't want details on the rest of my personal hygiene (or lack of same), by the way. Suffice it to say that I have very little sense of smell, so I wouldn't notice some matters generally considered important... and that I have no bathtub, and that I hate showers. You can do the rest of the math yourself.

Anyway, getting back to brushing, put all of the above together, and you end up with a bad case of gingivitis and a whole bunch of cavities.

I did brush my teeth tonight, though. And the night before last. So, hey, we're getting somewhere! This might be the start of a trend...