david sedaris -- Dentists Without Borders

[xchrom]

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/04/02/120402fa_fact_sedaris

One thing that puzzled me during the American health-care debate was all the talk about socialized medicine and how ineffective it’s supposed to be. The Canadian plan was likened to genocide, but even worse were the ones in Europe, where patients languished on filthy cots, waiting for aspirin to be invented. I don’t know where these people get their ideas, but my experiences in France, where I’ve lived off and on for the past thirteen years, have all been good. A house call in Paris will run you around fifty dollars. I was tempted to arrange one the last time I had a kidney stone, but waiting even ten minutes seemed out of the question, so instead I took the subway to the nearest hospital. In the center of town, where we’re lucky enough to have an apartment, most of my needs are within arm’s reach. There’s a pharmacy right around the corner, and two blocks further is the office of my physician, Dr. Médioni. Twice I’ve called on a Saturday morning, and, after answering the phone himself, he has told me to come on over. These visits, too, cost around fifty dollars. The last time I went, I had a red thunderbolt bisecting my left eyeball.

The doctor looked at it for a moment, and then took a seat behind his desk. “I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you,” he said. “A thing like that, it should be gone in a day or two.”

“Well, where did it come from?” I asked. “How did I get it?”

“How do we get most things?” he answered.

“We buy them?”

The time before that, I was lying in bed and found a lump on my right side, just below my rib cage. It was like a devilled egg tucked beneath my skin. Cancer, I thought. A phone call and twenty minutes later, I was stretched out on the examining table with my shirt raised.

Read more http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/04/02/120402fa_fact_sedaris#ixzz1qEhcXUhQ

[cbayer]

1. I love him. And the best thing is, when I read his stuff I can hear him saying it out loud.

If you haven't ever seen him do a live reading, watch for him to come to your area. It's better than any stand up comedy anywhere.

Thanks so much for posting this.

[xchrom]

2. yeah i love him too -- funny, funny man. nt

[surrealAmerican]

3. great article

He's the only writer I can think of who's made me want to meet his dentists.

[xchrom]

4. i know, right?

and the very casual way the whole french drs seem to operate -- very approachable -- if a bit tired.

[progressoid]

5. "pointing to the bathroom and asking the receptionist if I may use the sandbox"

I'm taking a long trip tomorrow and I've already checked out "Me Talk Pretty One Day" to listen to (again) on the road.

[tammywammy]

6. I love love love David Sedaris.

So funny. When I read his works I imagine them in his voice.