Brace Face

All my life I had crooked teeth.  The top front two were the worst.  Almost turned sideways even.  My parents didn't have insurance when I was growing up, and they couldn't afford to get me braces.  My parents owned their own cleaning business and they worked hard to give us the things we did have.  When I was in High School, they both went back to school.  I admire them so much for that.  They showed me that if you work hard, you can accomplish whatever you put your mind to.  Growing up poor taught us to appreciate what we had and to appreciate each other.  My family was very close and still is.  My parents are divorced now, but still we spend every birthday, Christmas, New Years and special occasion together.  I have never known another family like ours and I am so thankful for them.  Anyway, I digress.  My teeth were awful. I got made fun of a lot because of them.  Kids are just mean.  Some adults are just mean too, sadly enough.  By the time I was an adult, I had grown accustomed to my teeth.  They were a part of me.  They helped me to build character, BUT...I had a bad case of TMJ.  I was waking up every morning with headaches from clenching my teeth so bad at night.  When I chewed, you could hear my jaw popping across the room.  It had gotten to be painful, so at 30, I went to the orthodontist and got braces.  Within 6 months, my TMJ was gone.  2 and half years later, I still have my braces on.  I get them off at the end of this week.  I am excited, but also a little scared.  I don't exactly know why I am scared, I just am.  I feel like I am beginning a new chapter in my life.  This year is a whole new chapter and it begins with new teeth and ends with a wedding.  I can't wait to see my new smile.

Until my next post,
Love each other!