I just wanted to say that I had a rewarding day today. I was putting up a library display (I'm a college librarian) about SD at the community college where I work. I had quite a bit of literature, brochures, etc. but I wanted a syringe. I went over to the dental hygiene department and, to make a long story short, I got the syringe and was invited by the dental hygiene faculty to share my experience with their continuing education students, their credit students and perhaps even address a group of dental hygienists at their national conference!! Wow!! Was I surprised! She even mentioned the possibility of joint authoring a journal article! All I wanted was a syrine. By the way, neither of them had even heard of SD, (which was not surprising to me). They were nevertheless, very anxious to learn all about it.

I told the hygienist in charge that the only good thing about having SD was being able to encourage and educate others. I guess as an educator it comes naturally. She said she felt like I was “destined” to walk into her clinic! I wouldn’t go that far but it’s the first time I’ve ever been (potentially) able to do something with my *disability* other than feel sorry for myself and get depressed (which I still do on occasion). Well, it made my day!!!

Bill Pankey AD/SD Illinois