I had an abscess around the root of an upper molar and the pain was intense for several days until an endodontist came to the rescue. Despite the pain, while walking back to the house from the mailbox in the darkening of evening, I noticed the pink contrail of a passing jet. The image was so striking, I dashed indoors to get my camera. It’s interesting how beauty can arrest one; how, for a few minutes, a pink line across a purple sky can anesthetize one.