Patch Blog: Home Court Advantage

So this is my first Patch.com blogging effort and I thought maybe I’d share a few words about my background.

I grew up in the San Gabriel valley and committed to being a dentist in the 10th grade over at Mark Keppel High.

I attended college locally and went to dental school over at USC.

Starting before birth, my family was so supportive and loving they made the Huxtables look dysfunctional.

I’ve practiced dentistry in Temple City since late-Disco and I’ve written for local rags since the mid-90s. My writing purpose has always been helping the readers to be their own best health care advocates. My strategy is engaging folks conversationally and sometimes even resorting to intentional humor.

And I’m a big boy, so you don’t have to hesitate letting me know how I’m doing.

Something awesome happened about a week ago and it got me to thinking about how all this dental career stuff got off the ground; it took me back.

And Thomas Wolfe once wrote, “You can’t go home again.” With all due respect T-Dub, that’s total BS. I know because I went back home just last week.

Couldn’t believe how easy college was back in The Day when I was 18. With all kinds of free time and independence, I was indeed finally the master of my own universe.

And…at the end of semester #1, I was also the humble owner of a generous 2.13 GPA (thanks to a charity “B” in English 150.)

In the span of a few months at Cal State LA (CSULA), I was at once a Diablo and then suddenly a Golden Eagle. Only problem was, my parents didn’t see anything golden about my early academic returns.

Dad and I had a little talk; we agreed he’d reward my best effort with total support. Anything less…and I was on my own.

About a week later, Dad helped me secure a warehouse position in the Vernon District. About two weeks later, I was the most focused, hard-working, committed student you’d ever wanna see. And it’s amazing how a dose of physical labor and reality can be chicken soup for the student soul. And Dad held up his end of the deal above and beyond my stays at Cal State LA and USC (I’ll never get over my Dad’s passing but I’ll always be grateful he lived long enough to see me open my own dental practice.)

A few weeks back, one of my patients (Coach Janell of the CSULA Lady Basketball Golden Eagles) invited me back home to my alma mater for a way overdue visit.

We met last week. Coach and I were joined by Cal State LA Athletic Director Dan and the Director of Development of Athletics Henry. It was wonderful. I’ll be back…soon. And what a deal! No organic chemistry.

The campus is beautiful and dynamic; and the place is growing faster than Barry Bonds’ head!

My three new friends were incredible, engaging hosts and guides. We had a great lunch and reminiscing about all kinds of stuff, it seemed like we’d known one another for years. And the whole experience generated a yellow brick road of sorts to memories that touch my heart even as I write.

When I got out of the car in Lot 4, just north of the old Biological Sciences building, the first familiar face I saw was my Dad’s.

Dad knew I had a dream and he was very familiar with it. He had challenged me to walk it 100%, not just talk it. And most of the walking had happened nearly 40 years ago, only about 100 feet away from my parking spot in Lot 4.

A speech professor once shared I’d learn way more about life spending 2 hours in the Cal State LA cafeteria than I would during 4 years of USC dental school. And he was right. But I’d also add some quality time spent in a warehouse and every second I spent actually listening to my Dad.

I may have been the student and future graduate. But even though the Great Depression had spoiled his dream of going to college, my Dad was by far, the most effective professor I ever had.

What an awesome day!