Five Minutes: See

Each week Gypsy Mama chooses a word to write about for five minutes. No editing, stream of consciousness. Today's word is: See.

Ready.  Set.  Write.

In second grade, I got my first pair of glasses.  After being tested thanks to the health checks public schools provided, my Mom was told I needed to be checked out by a doctor.  I remember the first day back in class after I started wearing my glasses, I told my Mom, "Gee, the chalk is SO white!"  (Yes, I'm that old that they had blackboards with chalk.)

As I got older my eyes got worse and I got more nearsighted.  Eventually I got brave enough for contacts and they completely changed my world.  No more steamed up glasses when I went from one temperature to another.  No glare at night from headlights.  And, I could actually wear sunglasses!  It totally gave me a confidence I didn't have. 

Due to my RA, I developed cataracts on both eyes. This side effect of my chronic illness is common, though it made me feel like an 80-year-old.  My opthamologist (I love saying that word) told me that when they were ready, he'd remove them and replace the lenses, which is the common procedure.  But, what was even more thrilling was the improvement I would receive because of it.  The lens replacements would restore my vision to near perfect, except for the astigmatism.  What an amazing feeling after I had each eye done and I could wake up in the morning and see my way to the bathroom and read my clock from across the room.  Thank you medical technology and a condition that insurance covered to do the procedure. 

I never take my sight for granted.  I love to observe, read, craft, bat my sparkly eyes.  What a blessing that little three-letter word is...See.