Crystal Graham: One-eyed monster

I think I am starting to know what it’s like to be blind.

Man, oh man.

Somehow I managed to get a couple of cuts in my eye.

In my clutziness I’m sure.

For anyone who has dealt with this, man oh man, you know what I’m talkin’ about.

It’s a burnin’ pain.

Add to the dilemma that I wear contacts.

So I had to take my contact out of my left eye.

So now I’m half blind, and in pain.

I don’t know which of the two is worse to tell you the truth.

Granted, the pain is a lot to deal with.

But, equally so, I am having to adjust not having a contact in … and I have had them since I was what, 16.

And … not being able to see out of one eye.

Of course, if you’re reading this … you’re probably saying, ‘Stop whining. Put your glasses on.’

And you see … that’s another can of worms all by itself … because well … I don’t have a backup pair of glasses.

It all stems back to my teen-aged years …

I hated wearing glasses.

I was about 14 years old when I finally clued my parents in on the fact that I couldn’t see anything on the blackboards at school.

Yep, I was the girl always moving to the front of the room whenever the teacher moved to the blackboard or overhead.

I somehow managed to pass the school eye exams every year.

I was very careful to pay attention to what the person in front of me said.

I was a whizbang when it came to memorization.

Still am, come to think of it.

Anyway, I avoided glasses like the plague.

One day, I finally clued my mom in … sure that she would let me get contacts.

Her response … your sister couldn’t wear contacts so I’m not wasting the money.

Ugh … having an older sister gave me no opportunity to forge new ground.

Anyway, my parents did get me a pair of glasses – although there was nothing pretty to them.
Is there anything pretty about glasses, period?

So I used them in class – when I absolutely had to.

The rest of the time, I tossed those babies into my bookbag.

I guess you can imagine the result.

When I was 16, I finally got my wish, and I got contacts.

And I haven’t owned a pair of glasses since.

Anyway, so the point is I suppose, no backup glasses.

Oh, and forgive me if this column makes no sense at all.

I think being half-blind is going to my head.

And staring at this computer screen is only making it worse.

The even scarier thing would be driving right now.

Which I am sure that I will tackle at some point over the next couple of days while I’m healing.

All I can say is keep your eyes peeled for the one-eyed monster!

And um, it would be really nice if um … I could get better soon.

Thank you.