Big Day in a Hometown

So, about a month ago, on a beautiful June 7 evening we celebrated a long-awaited Expansion Grand Opening. Chambers of Commerce from Temple City, Pasadena, and Arcadia arrived along with members armed with red ribbon and over-sized scissors. Mayor William Man and Councilmember Tom Chavez graciously represented our city. And our own Chamber Prez/CEO Peter Choi seamlessly emceed the event. And even though no local politicians were being sworn-in, crowd estimates landed somewhere around 250-people.

Major thanks go to our trusty Temple City Dental Care Scheduling Coordinator, Denise Williams-Jones. Denise connects with people the way Pavarotti could hum the Trojan Fight Song. In fact, my entire team of co-workers have the authentic ability to help patients feel liked and safe…on hello. If there were a master’s degree program for being positive, compassionate, and reassuring, my team would be the faculty.

It was a great opportunity for meeting new friends and catching up with folks we’ve been privileged to serve…for over 40-years? Seriously? As I explained to the crowd; when I was a little kid, if you were bad your parents sent you off to military school. If you were beyond incorrigible, you landed in dental school; hence the 40-years and my still youthful…distorted self-image.

If you attended, we really hope you had a great time. And what an awesome opportunity to enjoy Glitter Rose’s tunes while sampling Chef Carmen’s delicious food and Miss Missy’s amazing desserts.

And I don’t know about you, but holidays and special events always seem to get me reflecting about stuff. On the drive home, I remembered growing up in Monterey Park and visualizing the typical dentist’s workplace as a small space over the bank on the corner of Garvey and Garfield. I worried some and wondered if the profession lent itself to the possibility of dentists ever seeing the light of day? But on leading tours of our new open, airy space furnished with floor-to-ceiling windows with gently flowing fountains just outside, the Monterey Park vision seemed even more distant. And on being handed the mike to share a few words, I recalled and shared my wonder at being welcomed in person to Temple City by an amazing and gracious dentist who’d been in town for 40-years (Dr. Ewing had advised the beauty of our profession was all about people, family, and community.)

Well, now that I’m following Doc Ewing’s footsteps, I can share I still really enjoy dentistry, see my team and patients as family and bask in the light of day that comes from being part of an ever-expanding community.

Wonder if we can make June 7 an annual Temple City Dental Care community appreciation day?