Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

I was broken up with via text the other day...okay, I did not really break up with anyone and it was a letter in the mail not text but it was the termination of a relationship.

For almost two decades, I have gone to the same dentist. I found his name in my 'new employee' packet at my first job after college. Soon my mom, dad, sisters and their families were also going to him. As with many people my family 'jointly' likes, he became our friend.

More importantly, he became a 'son' to my dad. They talked, laughed and fished together. Our dentist knew about our Dad's secret plans of selling the house in Northbrook and moving to Wisconsin long before any of us.

When they fished together, the day was a sacred event. My dad would tell me in advance not to come by with the kids because 'Tim's coming to fish!' Afterward, I would hear stories of big catches and good male bonding.

Two years ago, my dad sadly passed away suddenly from complications from a car accident and undiagnosed esophageal cancer. Tim was one of the first people my mom thought to contact. Etched on my Dad's tombstone, are the words, 'Gone Fishing.' Tim remembered my dad by writing 'Save a spot for me' on the online memorial, making us all cry.

We all dreaded seeing Tim for a dental cleaning after my dad died. We knew seeing him would reduce us to tears. Looking at him would remind us of something my dad loved very much in life, friendship and fishing. Knowing Tim took the time to nourish a friendship with my dear dad in this fast paced world, has meant more to me as the time passes than anything. He made my dad very happy.

While Tim was a fabulous friend, he is also an outstanding dentist and let me tell you, I hate going to the dentist. My children love going to Dr. Tishler for dental work. They love to hear stories about my dad and they think meeting 'Popsie's friend' is magical. The stories told by those that loved and lost my dad are the very things that keep him alive in my children's hearts and minds. 

The other day, I opened the letter from '' and was shocked to see our dear friend was moving back to his hometown in Wisconsin. While I was selfishly so annoyed he was leaving, I was thrilled he and his wife were embarking on a new adventure in life together.

In a conversation we had after the 'break up' letter was sent, he mentioned my parents and their short-lived move to Wisconsin. Tim heard from my dad for years over his dreams of packing up and moving north; he longed for lots of land and a pond for fishing. Tim saw the happiness in my dad's eyes when his dreams became a reality. Tim experienced my dad's joy and pride of the open land around him many times when he went north to fish. Tim grieved with us when my dad died suddenly after the move north. He watched with us while my dad's dreams were lowered into the ground. He explained to me that he witnessed too many people wait until it was too late to live out their dreams.

Tim sold his practice and I was prepared not to like the new dentist; how was he ever going to compete with Dr. Tishler? I met the new dentist today and to my shock, he is delightful. He may never hold the special place in my family's heart that Dr. Tim Tishler does but Dr. Jay Rodgers will definitely be filling the holes in our teeth.

Thanks for excellent service, priceless friendship and thank you for leaving us in good care with Dr. Rodgers.