What I learned from the dentist about biting off more than I can chew

Part of reaching middle age must be the ability to find a pearl of wisdom anywhere.

I discovered this talent a few years ago over a plate of wings and fries with my best friend. We’d met for our occasional after-work dinner to catch up, talk sports and reminisce about the old days. The night’s conversation was mostly about our professional aspirations — as retired military guys established in second careers, we wondered whether we had yet another run in us, whether it was too late for a new ambition. Then, an audible snap interrupted the chat: I’d chipped my front tooth on the salad fork. We’ve been friends for three decades, so we immediately turned to jokes about all the ways our Gen X bodies are breaking. By the time the wings were scraps, he was reading aloud a posting for his dream j