Teeth

My youngest is getting teeth pulled today to get ready for braces. When she was small she used to send tiny notes to the tooth fairy, reminding her to make good on tooth transactions. Our tooth fairy was very undependable. Sometimes she would leave several dollars, and other times she seemed to be out of town - harvesting teeth in Peoria, perhaps.

First tooth rituals show up in many cultures. It's a universal practice to revere a child's lost teeth, as if any part of their bodies, unattached, deserves a bit of recognition. Heck, our teeth are hard workers. And if they are still in our mouths, they should be appreciated all the more.

Let us write odes to our teeth. Send me yours.