Vision Quest
Vision is a gift of our genes. As we grow older and spend increasing hours staring into screens, our sight takes pummeling strain. Screen adjustments may be made in font size, background contrast, etc. to accommodate them; yet as our eyes shift from pixelated virtual realm to real world, things continue to be fuzzy near and/or far.
optic nerves stretch out
like two old rubber bands
loose and overused
My screen life began in 1993, with work’s black background and green fonts; and in 1995, with home’s IBM PS1. It has scrolled along for thirty-plus years. My peepers, strong swivelers and focusers, serve faithfully, even as they begin to waver. With wry thoughts, I ask myself do I really want to see everything with clarity? I’ve rationalized fuzzy as a comforting aspect to dull sharp ugliness in an ever-dehumanizing world culture.
in a near future
will old androids need glasses?
what will humans see?
With family hounds after identifying log in the distance as squirrel, etc.; or being unable to read small print books, instruction manuals, etc., the peepers got intimately ogled. Picking up my new progressive lens glasses and adjusting to them over a month has been an adventure.
wrinkles in mirror
framed within frame within frame
laugh along with me
Frank Tassone is today’s host of dVerse’ Haibun Monday. Frank says:
What does vision mean to you? Is it ordinary eyesight? Extraordinary perception? Is it the eagle’s glare, whether perched or in flight? Or a certain Marvel superhero? Whatever vision is for you, incarnate it in your haibun!
A delightfully humorous account of how vision changes with age. Hope the adventure is worth it!
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Thanks, Frank. I have concluded that it is!
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this was great and really liked this – “With wry thoughts, I ask myself do I really want to see everything with clarity?”
and love the photo
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Thanks so much <3
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That’s a lovely photo, Lisa. I love the touch of humour in your exploration of life through vision. I agree about the strain screens cause to our eyes, and the comparison of optic nerves with old rubber bands – I sometimes feel mine are about to snap – and I remember those old PCs with black screens and green or amber fonts. I’ve recently had new glasses too!
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Thanks much, Kim. I was a happy camper the day I came home with them. Sent this pic to my kids and was relieved they would stop bugging me. Congrats on the new glasses!
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That’s really great, Lisa! You’re absolutely right, increased screen time along with becoming older makes our eyes strain more. I have near-sighted glasses to compensate for the blurry vision in distant objects. ☺️
Nice progressive lens, by the way! 👍😉
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Thanks so much, Yasan. After the adjustment period I love the progressive lens!
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You’re most welcome, Lisa. Sounds very great! Enjoy them! ☺️
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I love it, Lisa. You go way back. I started on an an Apple iii with big black floppy discs!! Glasses are a wonderful addition once you get used to them. Yours look great! :>)
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Thanks, Dwight! Remember when AOL and dial-up were the only options?
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Oh, yes, and all the buzzing a humming while we waited!
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I love your look! Yes, progressive lenses are a challenge. I’m always looking up or down a bit to find that sweet spot.
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Thanks, Lisa. The optometrist told me to wear them all of my waking hours for the first 2 weeks and I did. My eyes adjusted to them and that always shifting phase passed.
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