has always been important to me.
That is why I drove 6 hours to where I am, Grundy Virginia, for another round of volunteering in dental triage at a free dental and medical fair.
Other than teaching this is the most important thing I do.
It reminds me how little awareness many of us have of the reality of the lives of the one in five Americans who live in rural areas. We may be aware of the urban poor, but rural poverty is in many ways worse.
It will be in part heartbreaking to be here - I will see people in the 30s getting all remaining teeth pulled.
It will be spiritually uplifting as well - I will be doing something that matters, I will be deepening my connection with the rest of humanity.
This is my second attempt to post something today. I am on a very slow roaming connection on the wireless card for my computer. There is no AT+T or Sprint service here, so my Sprint Wireless card is connecting me via Verizon. It is expensive, but I thought this important enough to do.
This is my 3rd time in Grundy, my 8th volunteering in dental triage.
Today was a day for teacher professional development, but I chose to take leave to come down and help set up - we may screen a few patients today, but tomorrow is the main day.
We have a narrow window for set-up - the students in the school where we will be must first finish their school day. Then we unload the trucks and set up.
Tomorrow beginning in early morning we begin processing patients.
We will continue until near midday on Sunday, when everything must be broken down and packed up.
The Affordable Care Act does not address the dental needs of the people here, or in fact the dental needs of most Americans - we still separate oral health from the rest of medical, I think foolishly.
I am facing some minor surgery right now - I could have had it done this week, but did not want to miss this event. It is important to me to be here, to remind myself of how fortunate I am. Of greater importance, I am honored by being able to help, to make whatever difference I can.
I will have little connectivity during the next 48-54 hours. I will have not onsite, limited here in my room, and still have a 6 hour drive home beginning mid-morning Sunday.
I am online now primarily to catch up with email before going to set up.
I am sorry that I will miss the many good diaries and comments and front page stories that will be posted in the 2+ days, but for me this volunteering is of greater importance.
I hope others understand.
Perhaps I will offer some reflections, either at the end of tomorrow, or after I return. Perhaps not. I am inclined to write about these clinics because I think more people should begin to understand the reality of life for many Americans.
If my words can make a difference, then I feel obligated to offer them.
The words are less important than being here, even if most of what I do is handle paperwork, and the rest is to ensure the dentists in triage have the instruments and gloves they need to screen as many patients as possible.
This is the 3rd year I have stayed at the same small in partway up the valley wall. There is a tv and a refrigerator, but otherwise it is so spartan that it could almost pass for a monastic cell - I have spent enough time in monasteries to make that comparison.
I am honored to have this opportunity.
Thought it was worth mentioning.
Peace.