More (precious) than words
I thought that the speech impediment would be the worst after-effect of the op, but in the past few days that I haven't been able to move half of my face, I've found that what I've missed the most hasn't been the talking, but the laughter and -- even more surprisingly -- the smiles.
I guess with friends and family, they are (on some level) conscious of my condition, so they understand the cause of my tacitness, and my apparent lack of appreciation of their jokes. (I actually had to issue a warning to my friends, that whoever made me laugh ran the risk of bursting my stitches, and would have to sew back the wound for me.) Plus, with mobile phones and online messaging these days -- not to mention the conventional pen-and-paper -- I've been doing much better than I'd expected.
But it is the unnamed faces and the non-verbal forms of communication that I've found myself unexpectedly ill-equipped to deal with; when someone holds the door open for you, or when your car is stopped at the zebra-crossing, and the old lady ambles across and gives you a grateful wave -- the impaired facial communication leaves me stranded; I don't know how else to convey these simple acts of courtesy. A "thank you" or "you're welcome" unaccompanied by a smile comes off insincere at best, and condescending at worst.
I suppose I should be thankful that this is just a temporary problem; the bruising has subsided significantly anyway, and I've been able to manage a slight grin -- if somewhat awkward and lopsided. It's also made me think of all the times that I've been at the receiving end of ostensible indifference or rudeness, and how perhaps I haven't been as forgiving as I should have. After all, we all have our reasons, and it might be nice to extend some unsolicited understanding or sympathy now and then. And hey, at least mine's just an op; think about how much more some poor guy who's been cynical for 20 years needs those.
***
Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson
I guess with friends and family, they are (on some level) conscious of my condition, so they understand the cause of my tacitness, and my apparent lack of appreciation of their jokes. (I actually had to issue a warning to my friends, that whoever made me laugh ran the risk of bursting my stitches, and would have to sew back the wound for me.) Plus, with mobile phones and online messaging these days -- not to mention the conventional pen-and-paper -- I've been doing much better than I'd expected.
But it is the unnamed faces and the non-verbal forms of communication that I've found myself unexpectedly ill-equipped to deal with; when someone holds the door open for you, or when your car is stopped at the zebra-crossing, and the old lady ambles across and gives you a grateful wave -- the impaired facial communication leaves me stranded; I don't know how else to convey these simple acts of courtesy. A "thank you" or "you're welcome" unaccompanied by a smile comes off insincere at best, and condescending at worst.
I suppose I should be thankful that this is just a temporary problem; the bruising has subsided significantly anyway, and I've been able to manage a slight grin -- if somewhat awkward and lopsided. It's also made me think of all the times that I've been at the receiving end of ostensible indifference or rudeness, and how perhaps I haven't been as forgiving as I should have. After all, we all have our reasons, and it might be nice to extend some unsolicited understanding or sympathy now and then. And hey, at least mine's just an op; think about how much more some poor guy who's been cynical for 20 years needs those.
***
Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson
posted by Laughingcow at 6:04 pm
2 Comments:
swollen like grape... yah i know... i took out 4 at a go! and they came out in more that 3 pieces each I tell you...
O2, Joe: Thanks, guys! :)
Vandice: This was the only one of my wisdom teeth that broke leh. I still have the other three kept somewhere, all nice and intact! :) But the swelling has gone down quite a bit lah, and I've stopped munching on painkillers. ;)
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