My Conversation With
While wandering the hood I enjoy talking with people if they seem receptive. So, the other day I passed a fellow I’ve seen outside during most of my walking jogs. He is always fixing cars on his driveway. This time he glanced my way as I slowly trotted by. I offered a verbal greeting. As soon as he replied, I casually asked whether he repaired cars as a business.
“Yes, but I’m way too busy to take on new customers.”
I let that odd remark pass.
“Well, I’m retired. However, I did not count on the cost of dentistry. Most medical insurance doesn’t cover it. Most dental plans require you to see in-plan dentists for a significant discount. However, they are usually not very good.”
“Oh, I don’t go to dentists. When I was younger, I had cavities because I followed recommendations to brush my teeth with fluoride toothpaste. I’ve done the research; fluoride causes cavities and is harmful in other ways.”
“How so?” I asked.
“You know what’s in your mouth?”
“Mostly saliva,” I replied.
“Saliva is meant to be a cleansing agent for gums and teeth. If your gut produces good bacteria, saliva is all you need to maintain your teeth. Fluoride kills good bacteria making us susceptible to illnesses. I only eat what’s natural. And I only brush without toothpaste maybe every third day.”
Thinking this conversation was quickly going weird, I offered an accomodating reply.
“I no longer eat red meat. I eat chicken and fish.”
“Just think about all the chemicals pumped into chicken. As for fish, our oceans are so polluted you can’t get fish without also consuming toxic substances.”
“What do you eat?”
“Only natural produce that falls from trees or grows from the earth. As for meat, I purchase it from hunters whose game is taken from mountain ranges.”
“Perhaps you might try a breatharian technique. By properly inhaling you obtain all the nutrients necessary,” I joked.
“That’s a worthwhile idea.”
The conversation was quickly turning into a “My Dinner with Andre” chat. Therefore, I waved goodbye resuming my slow trot.
“If you need your vehicle repaired, let me know!” he called while I was making my escape.
