Yesterday afternoon I did something for myself that I have been pondering doing for a long, long time. But it always got put on the back burner. Part of it was probably fear (why rock the boat?), and part of it was prudent ideas about money (Putting four kids through college is the priority.) But since I told myself that I was going to start out my PART III empty nest stage of my life “in fine feather” this seemed like a wise and bold choice to show myself that I mean business.
So yesterday, I got Lasik surgery, and today this computer screen looks clearer than it has looked in quite some time. Without glasses or contact lenses, I am looking out my window and I can make out the edges of tree leaves from across the lake. I started wearing eye glasses when I was in the third grade, and for vanity’ sake, I quickly moved on to contact lenses. I don’t think that some of my friends even realized that I wore contact lenses until I carelessly scratched my cornea with old, outdated travel-sized contact lens solution, and I ended up in the ER during a girls’ trip in Nashville. (And let me say that cornea scratches are far more painful than Lasik surgery even comes close to being. When I scratched my cornea, I was sure that I was going blind, or if the pain continued, I was considering possibly blinding myself.)
Anyway, today I am celebrating the gift of sight, and I am also celebrating doing something meaningful and maybe even slightly extravagant for myself. After years of taking my body for granted, I am showing it that I am grateful to it – for its health and its vitality and for the ability to birth and to keep up with four children for decades. Today I am celebrating what my senses bring to my life’s experience. Today I am celebrating the sensuality of life in all of its crisp, crystal clearness.
Are you passing on love or are you passing on pain? Heal your pain and pass on love.
Good for you, Kelly. I’m not a good candidate for Lasik, even though I’d love to have it done. You have me beat: I started wearing glasses in 4th grade, switched to contacts as soon as I could. What a gift to wake up and see things in focus! The only time I think I’d miss blurry vision is at Christmas when I like to look at the lights without glasses. Did you get both eyes done at the same time?
Gail, I actually got what is called monovision – which is just one eye so that I don’t need glasses nor readers. I’ve been wearing one contact for a couple of years now and I’m lucky it works for me. A lot of people can’t get used to it.
My mother happily went through life that way. Not sure my old brain could get used to it. Thanks for the info.