Today, I watched David Lynch's Short Film, Out Yonder - Teeth - David Lynch. It reminded me of when I was a small boy.
My dentist's name was Dr. Mangels. Let's start there. I remember a drill she ran by pumping a pedal with her foot. I remember her giving me candy after each visit.
I remember the taste of the fluoride treatment, as it leaked in and around my teeth and mouth out of the rubber mouth piece. I remember that her giant hypodermic leaked at the attachment between the needle and the base onto my lips. Mostly, I remember the pain and terror of what it was like to go to the dentist as a child in the early 70s, and how much further we are along today. If I had the money, I would go to a good modern dentist every month for treatment, but mostly for fun. They have vibrating massage chairs, gas, surgical-strength Novocaine, pills, and music.
And so I am asking you to join me in the horror and experience vicariously what I did today and in my consciousness as I was triggered by Lynch's film into childhood memories. Please first watch Mr. Lynch's short film. After I watched it, I Googled "Dr. Mangels" to see if there were other dentists with that name. HINT: There were. But I came across THE Dr. Mangels - the woman who was my dentist. I found her obituary. Her name was Celia. She passed away Oct. 9 (four days after my birthday) in 2017. She was the second woman dentist in Miami. She loved nature, wildlife conservation, and fly-fishing.
As strange as it seems, I will miss her.
My dentist's name was Dr. Mangels. Let's start there. I remember a drill she ran by pumping a pedal with her foot. I remember her giving me candy after each visit.
I remember the taste of the fluoride treatment, as it leaked in and around my teeth and mouth out of the rubber mouth piece. I remember that her giant hypodermic leaked at the attachment between the needle and the base onto my lips. Mostly, I remember the pain and terror of what it was like to go to the dentist as a child in the early 70s, and how much further we are along today. If I had the money, I would go to a good modern dentist every month for treatment, but mostly for fun. They have vibrating massage chairs, gas, surgical-strength Novocaine, pills, and music.
And so I am asking you to join me in the horror and experience vicariously what I did today and in my consciousness as I was triggered by Lynch's film into childhood memories. Please first watch Mr. Lynch's short film. After I watched it, I Googled "Dr. Mangels" to see if there were other dentists with that name. HINT: There were. But I came across THE Dr. Mangels - the woman who was my dentist. I found her obituary. Her name was Celia. She passed away Oct. 9 (four days after my birthday) in 2017. She was the second woman dentist in Miami. She loved nature, wildlife conservation, and fly-fishing.
As strange as it seems, I will miss her.
Dr. Celia Mangels (1922 - 2017)
MANGELS, DR. CELIA PASSED AWAY October 9, 2017 Born on July 14, 1922, in Miami, Florida, Celia Carlin Mangels was a true Miami pioneer and outdoors adventurer. She graduated from Miami Beach High School and Florida State College for Women. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. She attended the University of Louisville, where she received her doctorate degree in dentistry. She was the second woman dentist in Miami and practiced child dentistry for a half century. Her passions were travelling, fishing, dogs, and wilderness conservation. She travelled to the North and South Poles and visited half the nations of the world and all 50 U.S. states, including several fly-fishing excursions to Alaska. She leaves behind her beloved brother, Henry (Carol Russo), nieces Jolynn Greenhalgh (Tommy), Suann Oman (Chris), and three grand nieces, Alexandra, Jessica, and Kristen, and her extended family, Kareen O'Connell and Kareen's son Bishop. Celia will be dearly missed by all who knew her. A memorial service will be held in her honor at Gregg Mason Funeral Home, in Miami Shores, on Saturday, October 14, 2017 at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, sympathizers are encouraged to make contributions in Celia's name to The Nature Conservancy. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made In Celia's honor to The Nature Conservatory (nature.org).
This all may explain some of the influence of dentistry in my work as an artist and musician.
MANGELS, DR. CELIA PASSED AWAY October 9, 2017 Born on July 14, 1922, in Miami, Florida, Celia Carlin Mangels was a true Miami pioneer and outdoors adventurer. She graduated from Miami Beach High School and Florida State College for Women. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. She attended the University of Louisville, where she received her doctorate degree in dentistry. She was the second woman dentist in Miami and practiced child dentistry for a half century. Her passions were travelling, fishing, dogs, and wilderness conservation. She travelled to the North and South Poles and visited half the nations of the world and all 50 U.S. states, including several fly-fishing excursions to Alaska. She leaves behind her beloved brother, Henry (Carol Russo), nieces Jolynn Greenhalgh (Tommy), Suann Oman (Chris), and three grand nieces, Alexandra, Jessica, and Kristen, and her extended family, Kareen O'Connell and Kareen's son Bishop. Celia will be dearly missed by all who knew her. A memorial service will be held in her honor at Gregg Mason Funeral Home, in Miami Shores, on Saturday, October 14, 2017 at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, sympathizers are encouraged to make contributions in Celia's name to The Nature Conservancy. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made In Celia's honor to The Nature Conservatory (nature.org).
This all may explain some of the influence of dentistry in my work as an artist and musician.
The Foot-Operated Drill - 1970
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