Category: Retirement

birthday glasses

whbeebe8 Comments

Today I turned 71. As part of that celebration I received a new pair of glasses I’d ordered last week from Visionworks. I had a full eye exam at Visionworks, which showed that my very bad nearsightedness (20/700) had improved dramatically over the last two years to 20/400 in the right eye and 20/350 in the left eye. I figure if I live long enough I’ll die with 20/20 vision, assuming some other eye-related disease doesn’t strike first. What I’m watching is farsightedness fighting nearsightedness.

I was treated to the latest eye examination device, where the doctor photographed the inside back of each eye. That eliminated the need to have both eyes dilated, and allowed me to walk out without any visual impediment. The doctor told me my eyes were in perfect health, with barely an indication of cataract development. Blood pressure and diabetes contribute to physical eye problems, and I keep mine under tight control with exercise, diet, and medications. Every six months I have my blood chemistry checked to make sure everything is where it should be, and it is. I hope I can keep it that way for as long as possible.

I can tell a difference between the new glasses and the pair from two years ago. At the rate my vision is changing I’ll need to check again in two years, and I’m certain the prescription will change again, necessitating a new pair. Right now things are wonderfully sharp again.

The frames are all metal with very little plastic, and with a light bronze coloration. It’s a low-key look I much prefer over every other glasses frames I’ve ever worn.

Corrected and clear eyesight; the best birthday present I could have asked for.

the last month of 2024

whbeebe

It’s been two weeks since Ruby was put to sleep, and I’ve gone from the shock of the loss to peaceful acceptance far faster than I’ve ever experienced such a loss. It’s not because I loved Ruby less, but because I’m a lot older now than the last time I experienced such a loss with Max, together with Lucy, back in 2015. I was still gainfully employed and still traveling, so I felt a much stronger need to find a companion for then-living Ruby, who was seven at the time. That’s how we came to rescue Annie. But now that I’m retired (and have been for a good four years) I’ve discovered that I can occupy Annie’s time fully, with multiple daily walks and having her with me throughout the day as I work inside and outside the house. We even take her for car trips when we run short errands.

Annie absolutely loves it. She’s gone from feeling her loss for Ruby to being a joyful part of the household with her humans. We fill her days and she fills ours. As a consequence we’ve put off adopting a second dog as Annie’s companion. I don’t know how much longer Annie will be with us, or if we’ll ever adopt a second along with Annie. We may let Annie finish living a natural life and then just keep the cats. Only time will tell at this point.

This is probably the last quiet month before 2025 and the transfer of power to the 47th president of the United States. The November election was a shock to be sure. I have no idea what will happen for the next four years starting 20 January, but you can rest assured it won’t be good for anyone except the very few at the top.

I have no idea how I’ll react and resist, but it won’t be noisy like the start of 2017. We all saw how that worked out. 2024 will be be the start of my personal quietude, where silent strength and silent activity are the watch phrases.

Quietude does not mean cowardice.