A Whole New World**
For several months now I’ve been complaining about being blind. I wear glasses when I drive, but otherwise I make do without because I can’t be bothered. This is usually workable, as long as I don’t have to see anyting more than five feet away from me*. Computer screen? Good. Book? Not a problem. Person I’m shaking hands with? Fine. Person on the other side of the room? Getting fuzzy. The blackboard? Ha. Anything outside? Practically invisible.
Last week I finally went back to my eye doctor, who told me that, by golly, I really AM blind! Legally blind, in my left eye. (My right eye is something like 20/40, which is how I manage not to run into walls.) I wasn’t blind at my last check-up a couple years ago—the doc said it was probably from so much computering. Phooey. On the up side, he also said my eyes were wonderfully healthy. Yay! If only I could see out of them.
I got fitted for contacts on Thursday, and the difference was mind-blowing. I hadn’t realized how blind I was until I was suddenly able to see like a normal person again. (Remember that my vision had gone downhill since my last visit, so I wasn’t seeing clearly even *with* my glasses.)
There’s SO MUCH DETAIL in the world that I feel like my head is going to explode just trying to process it all. Trees have leaves! Did you know that? And not only the tree I’m standing under—they all do! Buildings have bricks! Fences have slats! Cars and restaurants have people in them! People who can be recognized before they’re close enough to touch! My ceiling fan is dirty!
It’s a big, beautiful, detailed world out there. I feel like I want to take pictures of all these wonderful things so I don’t forget them.
Speaking of which, I swear I’m not becoming the type of crazy person who dresses her animals up like people, BUT. I got my puppy the most adorable little trenchcoat at SuperTarget yesterday. He *hates* it, but it’s absolutely smashing on him. My sweet widdle spy. If I ever find batteries for my camera I’ll show you.
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* Like the overhead menu boards in restaurants, which are farther from the counter than you might think. Why do they make the words so small?
** Like the song from Aladdin, which I learned to play on the piano when I was little. I remember it being very very pretty, and now I wish I could find the sheet music.
Tags: miscellany, Sam
February 21st, 2006 at 9:02 am
I totally know what you mean. I got my contacts in 9th grade and it made such a difference. I definitely had a “those trees have leaves!” moment.