What was supposed to be the biggest birthday party ever turned into a very long night involving gravity, misfortune, and an oral surgeon in pajamas.

In this episode, I tell the story of my 17th birthday party, the untouched plate of food, a badly timed shoulder, and the series of decisions that led me from a park full of music and friends to the ER, an after-hours dental office, and weeks of living on soft food. Along the way, there were pliers, laughing gas, catfish comparisons, missed Thanksgiving, and a newfound respect for a really good dentist.

It’s a story about shock, denial, the people who showed up for me, and how one unexpected moment followed me for years — until it didn’t anymore.