9 GROSSED OUT ✤ NAVIGATING DISFOMFORT TO ENJOYING THE MOMENTS

I was committed for the day, 8 - 5:30. One of the first to arrive and not knowing what to expect I chose a table up front.

8:00 am ✤ Breakfast served:

I helped myself to breakfast - Salmon, eggs, pineapples & bagels and retook my seat. 3 other women joined my table. We introduced ourselves and they excused their selves to get breakfast.

During our breakfast the woman closest to me started up a conversation. She ask me a question. I turned to look at her, an act I regretted. Food liquid oozed from the sides of her mouth. She smiled and food clong to her teeth. She spoke and food flew out her mouth. I thought to myself 'eewww'. I kept my facial expression neutral so I don't give away my disgust. 

1:00 pm ✤ Lunch served:

Quinoa salad with cranberry, pasta salad, roast beef , coleslaw+. I quickly learned to smile and nod without direct eye contact to the woman directly to my right as she ate steadily throughout the day. I thought I had it mastered until the woman right of her asked me a question. I looked toward her and paused. I had to schooled my features as she worked her bottom dentures in and out of her mouth. I silently thought, 'Jesus Murphy help me.' I grimace smile with teeth and nodded my head affirmatively.

Toward the end ✤ Indirect stare

The day was enjoyable. I didn't change tables because it would have been too ackward. I had no intention of being deliberately rude instead I adjusted. I used an indirect stare and angled my body toward them during conversations. Eye to eye contact was made intermittently when they were not eating. I didn't escape entirely though as the woman played with her dentures periodically throughout our communication.