Random Thoughts, Part 12
Posted: Monday, March 07, 2011
by Dianne Lehmann
Artisan Jewelry from SyZyGy
How did I get to be so old?
Do you ever ask yourself that? I can't really see a twenty something asking that question. I think it is more a question for the forty somethings and fifty somethings. I think by the time you've reach sixty something, you pretty much have figured it out … I hope. Sadly (or maybe gladly as it might be an end to my confusion … or maybe not) I am approaching sixty something. This year will be the last year I can celebrate a birthday with an age starting with a five. How did I get to be so old? My mom stopped counting at 39. At least I'm woman enough to own up to it … so far anyway. We'll see how I feel about it when I hit sixty.
When I think about all those years, all those months, all those days, it just seems like so many and yet at times it seems like so few. How does one make sense of it?
M'am versus Miss
I should have known I was getting old when several years ago people stopped referring to me as Miss and started calling me M'am. I think I noticed it first in grocery stores where the bagger would say to me, "M'am, would you like some help out with your groceries?" Another tip off should have been that they even asked the question. Did I suddenly look more frail and decrepit? Granted, I've always been small, but why had they started asking that. And it's been years since anyone carded me for an alcoholic beverage purchase. Sigh.
It crept out of the grocery store into other shops … "Excuse me M'am, are you finding everything you need?" "M'am, can I help you find the right bra?" "Good afternoon M'am, and thank you for shopping at … you fill in the blank." What do I have to do to be a Miss again?
The Big Question
I got an eye exam recently. A little over a year ago, I suddenly developed flashing lights in my right eye (I was born with my right eye nearsighted and my left eye normal … well as normal as any part of me can be). I was alarmed and went forthwith to my husband's (Bernd is an optician) place of employment to have my eye examined. Actually, the doctor examined both of them, but I was only concerned about the right one.
The optometrist told me that most likely my vitreal sack had partially detached from my retina. But the good news was that the retina had not detached from the retinal body along with it. My research indicated that this happens most commonly in middle aged women who are nearsighted. Oh joy.
Over the last year or so, the flashes have decreased in frequency but the floaters (cells that come loose as the sack detaches) have continued to be quite numerous. At any rate, I decided it was time to find out what was going on in there. Both of my eyes checked out just fine and were pronounced healthy in all ways. I was informed that the reason the bright flashes had mostly stopped is because the vitreal sack had just about completely detached. I presume that over the next few months the floaters will start to decrease as well, as the dead cells are eliminated … if they are eliminated at all. I don't really know and I forgot to ask.
My prescription had hardly changed at all … mostly it just corrects a little presbyopia (trouble with close up and middle distance) in my left eye. I have a plain (no prescription) lens for the right eye. But my glasses were three years old and I thought it was time for a new pair (even though I don't wear them at home and the old pair is still in like new condition). So I asked my husband, Bernd the Optician, "Do you have any frames that will make me look younger?" He laughed and after telling the front office people what I'd just said he replied, "Sweetie, I don't think there are any frames that will do that." Drat. And I was half serious with that question. He told me that I'm not the first person to ask him that question. I wonder how he handles it with them.
Because I am small and my head is small (contrary to popular belief, and no pinhead jokes please), I shop for frames in the kids department. This doesn't always offer a lot of choices. But this time, I decided not to go with the most practical frame I could find. I went with something fun and colorful and youthful. So even if I can't look younger, at least my glasses can. Young at heart will have to suffice.
Things I have Learned
Nothing, but nothing, stops the passage of time.
Husbands, no matter how much they love you, will not always coddle you.
I actually do prefer honesty … even when it hurts a little.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Let me say here too in SW...
Great going ...keep the writing flag flying high...Hi Chiradeep.
Thanks so much for both! I'll do my best.
Hugs,
Dianne
I'm 62 now But I still haven't made sense of it all. One day I was standing in a store when I man in his 40s I presume came by me and said excuse mt pop. "POP" well that made we wonder about getting old.Hi David.
Pop, hunh?! I'll BET that made you stop and think. I guess I shouldn't complain because they aren't calling me "grandma" yet. :)
Thanks so much for reading and for leaving a comment!
Hugs,
Dianne
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