Mount Pleasant Magazine Jan/Feb 2018

66 www.CharlestonBrides.com | www.MPMcalendar.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com feature always has; it always will. It ends with the final out of the World Series. What follows are the darkest, dreariest days of this or any other year. Fans of the game that gives you time to dream are damned by a dull, gut- wrenching pain that no amount of ibuprofen or alcohol can assuage. Our only salvation comes in mid-February, when our physical, mental and psychological suffering is eased and our saddened hearts are lifted skyward by the most beautiful sentence in the English language – Pitchers and catchers reported today – signaling the start of the sacred ritual of spring training, the first step in an epic journey that will end with the final out of the 2018 World Series. And then, we will again sink into our self- induced pit of despair. Let me say right here and now that there’s nothing seriously wrong with most other sports. Some of them provide an interesting diversion when Major League baseball ducks under the radar for three-and-a-half months. I have been known to watch a few football games in my time, and it’s true enough that I might have even said once or twice that I would kill for the Eagles. But let’s be real. I didn’t specify that I would take the life of a human being in exchange for a Super Bowl victory. I’m thinking more like a small unmenacing rat, if there is such a thing, or a very large roach. Do you really think I want to wile away my twilight years sharing a cell with an axe murderer or worse? It seems to me that in prison, professional wrestling is most likely a more popular pastime than baseball. I probably wouldn’t fit in. But I regress, and, before my regression becomes depression, I’ll point out that I will not argue – that much – with anyone who claims that ice hockey is the most exciting game on Earth and that the NCAA basketball tournament offers hour upon hour of stunning upsets, buzzer-beaters and generally riveting entertainment. But none of these are baseball. Is there another game where the defense has control of the ball? Is there another game that, at its highest level, is played in 30 different venues, each with unique outfield dimensions and subtle and not-so-subtle differences? Is there another game where you can buy a ticket, sit down next to a perfect stranger, discuss and dissect every play with your newfound friend and never miss a single play? There isn’t. I know what you’re thinking. From the latest cosmetic techniques in dentistry to gentle restorative procedures and preventative hygiene services, trust 22 years of experience and comprehensive dental training. Garner Family Dentistry, LLC 1059 Chuck Dawley Blvd. Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 843.884.6002 Mon-Thurs 8-5 cynthiagarnerdentistry.com • Bonding • Cosmetic Contouring • Crowns and Bridges • Cosmetic Fillings • Implants • Veneers • Zoom Whitening • Sealants • Extractions • Scaling and Root Planing • Dentures • Cosmetic Dentistry • Jaw/TMJ • Oral health screenings Cynthia Garner, DDS