New Glasses

This guy. Never feels sorry for himself, complains about his lot in life, or pulls the “blind card.” He doesn’t expect different treatment than anyone else, and holds himself to standards most sighted people would struggle to attain. But every year or two we find ourselves sitting in yet another dismal eye exam room to “update his prescription” for glasses that don’t really help anyway, save for seeing the enlarged time on his backlit phone. As his wife, today I can’t help but share in his palpable heartbreak as the doctor tells us the standard equipment is no longer strong enough to help him. So we’ll go on down the line to a specialist with better machines- better suited for telling blind people what they already know- to a more precise degree. And all I can think is- how lucky am I to witness such grace and dignity every day. I’m not just saying that. I like to share these stories because people or partners of people with lives different than traditional ones, for whatever reason, should know they’re not alone. We see you! Your lives are so beautiful and unique and worthy. And for those who may not share in that understanding- it’s still important to be real and honest, because everyone has battles we know nothing about. Always remember to lead with love, kindness and empathy if anyone ever has questions or wants to talk about blindness or being in an inter-abled relationship, our door is always open- all are welcome!