Dentist

[00:00:05.517] I'm asked all the time about that. Why did I go into dentistry? [00:00:10.083] I really didn't have a great understanding [00:00:12.522] of what dentistry was all about when I was a kid, [00:00:15.558] but my mom was a dental assistant. [00:00:19.033] When I was 13 years old, I became an Eagle Scout. [00:00:22.700] One of the things that the Boy Scouts [00:00:26.892] offered for Eagle Scouts was called a recognition dinner. [00:00:31.800] What they did was they matched the scouts with a professional in an occupation [00:00:39.118] that was interesting to the scout, that he might eventually go into. [00:00:46.358] I wanted to be a doctor. [00:00:47.675] They couldn't find a physician that would sponsor me, [00:00:51.275] but they found an orthodontist. [00:00:53.400] I ended up getting orthodontic treatment from him. [00:00:55.961] I ended up going into his office and visiting him. [00:00:59.617] Between him and my mom, being a dental assistant, I decided, [00:01:04.367] this is a great way to help people and a great way to live my life. [00:01:09.717] I ended up going to Tufts University in Boston where I grew up. [00:01:14.808] Then when I graduated from Tufts, I ended up coming to Colorado. [00:01:19.742] I'm here now 47 years, and I love it. [00:01:23.942] People always ask me, "Well, when are you going to retire?" [00:01:27.475] I don't know, they must think I'm an old man or something. [00:01:29.642] I say, "I've been retired for the last 45 years." [00:01:35.883] I retire as I go. [00:01:37.551] I've traveled. [00:01:38.868] I was a dentist on a cruise ship for a while, [00:01:42.558] traveled the world. [00:01:43.784] I've seen a lot of what I want to see, and I've done a lot of my bucket list. [00:01:49.208] I have a passion for what I do. Why should I retire? [00:01:51.818] I think I'll be here quite a long time yet, [00:01:54.051] and as long as I can treat patients, this is my life, this is my passion, [00:02:00.450] this is where I meet my people, make my friends, [00:02:05.330] and continue to have relationships with these people. [00:02:08.761] Some of the people have come to me for 45 years. [00:02:13.542] I know their kids, I know their grandkids. [00:02:17.233] It makes it very special. [00:02:18.459] I live a special life. Why should I give that up?