The Horror

19 May 2007 by The General Published in: General musings 7 comments

A week ago today, I had a horrifying realization, one I’ve been dreading for a LONG time.

We had dinner with another couple and then went to see Spiderman III. When we got to their house, I grabbed the newspaper to make sure of the times when the movie was playing, and realized that….I couldn’t read the fine print with the movie times!!! Rather suddenly, my arms had grown too short.

I had to borrow my friend Mark’s reading glasses in order to read the movie times. I’m 46, and I knew this day was coming, sooner than later. The next day, last Sunday, we went to Costco and I bought three pairs of +1.25 reading glasses for $18. That way, I have one pair for upstairs, one for downstairs, and one for the office.

The other night, after my talk in Pinehurst, a fellow brought up a photocopy of some information he thought I might be interested in, but the print was too small, and I didn’t have my reading glasses with me. I had to do the old hold the page as far away as I could so I could read it bit, and I suddenly felt VERY old. 🙁

There are some very effective bifocal contact lenses out there now. I’m hoping I might be eligible for them…..

Scridb filter

Comments

Bridget

Sat 19th May 2007 at 10:37 pm
Steve discovered the same thing last fall. We’ve bought him 6 pairs of +1.25 glasses from Costco and he still never has a pair when he needs one.
Phil LeDuc

Sat 19th May 2007 at 11:42 pm
Happens fast, doesn’t it? The same thing hit me in the late 40’s, and I was amazed at how quickly it occurred – all in the space of a couple of months. And I was a contact lens wearer. When I realized I would be wearing contacts and still putting on and taking off reading glasses, I threw vanity to the wind and switched to seamless bifocals permanently. As my father used to say – “Getting old is the s***s.”
Mike Fitzpatrick

Sun 20th May 2007 at 12:04 pm
Eric,
The same thing happened to me at about 51. It just comes right on you.
I was in a restaurant and I couldn’t read the menu in the dim lighting.
Very frustrating! I leave those reading glasses all around the house, but
I always forget to take a pair with me.

Mike
Christopher J. Swift

Sun 20th May 2007 at 12:47 pm
Eric:

I spent Saturday giving eye exams for the Lions Club at a car show. I know this must be hard on you being a writer.

By the way I bought a copy of Forgotten Cavalry Actions, and to my suprise it was a signed copy as well. I am reading it now, and must admit it is well done so far.

Chris
Mike Nugent

Sun 20th May 2007 at 1:15 pm
Welcome to the club Eric!

I had worn glasses since I was 7 years old and finally got free of them when I had LASIK done about 6 years ago. They told me then that even though my results were great, that eventually I’d at least need reading glasses again. Well, “eventually” is here. Like you I’ve now got a few pairs of +1.25 reading glasses around.

Hopefully we can all at least avoid needing a walker anytime soon!
Rudy888

Sun 20th May 2007 at 8:56 pm
Most guys go through the same process, hold fine print articles at arms length, pretending that their eyes haven’t changed. Yeah, I did that too. Then cheap reading glasses which if you get in the habit of wearing them while doing paperwork and looking up and through them at distant objects, can damage your eyes.

But look at it this way; I go to Church and learn that a member has passed away and he was 73. I’m 69. Healthy, active, but 69. So you get the bi focals and I ignore the big floral arrangements at Church.

Hope that helped you feel VERY young. Have a great week.
The General

Sun 20th May 2007 at 9:13 pm
Thanks, guys. It helps. 🙂

Chris, I’m really pleased to hear that you’re enjoying the book, which is, I believe, now officially out of print.

Eric