Extending our ‘Highest Prior to’ Dates


A number of the many stuff I’ve loved in my lifetime, I’ve had the chance to look on degree as a slapstick comedian. For my part, I in finding a large number of comedy routines as of late to be stuffed with objectionable language or interested in insulting sure teams or too topical and, thus, now not enduringly humorous. Me? I simply marvel about issues, comparable to:

  • If you happen to go away sheep out within the rain, will they shrink?
  • How does one plant seedless grapes? 
  • Why can we park within the driveway and force at the freeway?
  • Does thriller author Stephen King ever have nightmares?
  • If you’re making a cow snigger exhausting sufficient, will milk pop out of its nostril?
  • If bitter cream is milk that has long past dangerous, why does it have an expiration date?

Oh, I’ve contemplated these items and extra. Much more. I’ve been gathering this type of stuff for years. It’s amusing and in reality other to take action. Nevertheless it was once that expiration date funny story that particularly resonated all through a contemporary affected person discuss with.

“Sandy” is a retired faculty instructor, now smartly into her 70s. Her fresh well being has now not been very best. First, she had a most cancers scare with a recognized tumor. It was once got rid of surgically and located to be benign. Then, in a while after convalescing from that surgical procedure, she had her proper hip changed. And closing week, she walked into our administrative center, with a regular gait, having a look and feeling smartly, however her oral area had taken a beating because of lengthy health facility remains and intermittent house oral well being care. Fortunately, we had been in a position to revive her oral well being merely and inexpensively, because of her lifelong dependancy of seeing us often. 


Nevertheless it was once her remark on the finish of the appointment that had us all guffawing. She commented that she has now entered the duration of her existence referred to as her “highest sooner than” date. She was once shiny and cheery pointing out this, and we concept it was once a pleasing means to take a look at ageing.

A lot of you might also know I’m an avid “Megastar Trek” fan (my favourite TV collection is “Deep House 9”), and I’ve been subscribing and taking note of the loose podcast, “Interact: The Reliable Megastar Trek Podcast.” In a contemporary episode, the host, Jordan Hoffman, was once at the first-ever “Megastar Trek: The Cruise,” and interviewed Ethan Phillips, the actor who portrayed the nature Neelix on “Megastar Trek: Voyager.” I had no concept sooner than taking note of this, however Phillips is a humorous guy. And in this cruise (which I used to be not able to wait), he held a consultation to show folks concerning the artwork of comedy. Oh, to had been in a position to wait that consultation. Within the podcast episode, Phillips advised a funny story (which I can’t repeat right here) that illustrated the significance of the way phrases are utilized in a undeniable means for dramatic and/or comedic affect. It’s the foundation for one of the crucial comedy I take advantage of in my keynote communicate, “Luck Is All about Relationships.”

Within the January 2017 factor of AGD Affect, AGD Editor Roger D. Winland, DDS, MAGD, wrote about holding frustrations in point of view. Having a lighter center, seeing existence during the eyes of others with an angle of abundance, and connecting and adorning the relationships with our sufferers will convey us extra luck — and prolong our “highest sooner than” dates to a miles later time in our lives.

Larry Stanleigh, BSc, MSc, DDS, FADI, FICD, FACD, FPFA

Leave a Comment