Next dramatic chapter in life
Next dramatic chapter in life…Getting glasses
It was the summer of 1980 and I– Ilona –was 53 years old. Going to and from Vancouver where we lived to Longview where I worked, I had noticed the strain on my eyes trying to read the signs on the streets, the Interstate five freeway signs and of course the work at my desk. I thought the time had come for an eye exam and most likely glasses. Oh my, I had been holding off on this… I hated glasses. Over fifty and here goes my looks, I was saying while driving to Portland for my eye exam. What comes next? False teeth, hearing aid and eventually sensible shoes?
After my exam Doctor Zell told me, exactly what I had feared. I needed glasses. I picked a gold frame; it went well with my auburn hair and the Optician ordered the lenses.
I walked a few blocks to my favorite florist, before picking up my car, to get myself a bouquet of beautiful flowers. No occasion, just because I deserved them after this drama I just went through. Luke’s Florist my favorite flower shop always had gorgeous stems of large orchid blossoms, so I picked the white with purple inside and also purchased a lovely Asian vessel where I could arrange them with some greens, when I get home. All the way home on I-5 I was crying, feeling sorry for myself, until I got home and got a big hug from my sweetheart Hal. At the dinner table my Hal wanted to know what made me cry. I told him my sad tale, we both started laughing, and I started to feel better.
In a few days on a Saturday, I picked up my glasses and after that weekend wore them driving to Longview. This was quite different. I could read all the signs on the road, the freeway, the name of the clinic I worked in and things in general looked much clearer. I was most likely embarrassed or uncomfortable about my glasses. Every time Doctor Neil came to my office to talk with me, I removed my glasses and then looked up to speak with him. After this went on for a few days Doctor Neil asked…”Ilona can’t you hear with your glasses on?” We both had a good laugh and from then on, I kept my glasses on and just got used to what was eventually inevitable.