Wedding Song - God Knew That I Needed You

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

ASTHMA & CONTACT EYEWEAR DO NOT GEL

Monday afternoon, had picked my contacts up at the optometrist office in town.

Contacts.

Tuesday morning, I slid them into my eyes for my 4-hour trial adjustment period.

The contacts were fine for distance.

But after an hour, I was still having trouble with blurriness “up close”, like hand-held things (cell phone: contacts, notifications; books, ect.), laptop keyboard tabs … anything that was not distance related; and that’s a big factor because I like to read my Bible, and read patterns for handcrafts. Plus, I’m a designer, I work with my hands on “up close” handcrafted items, and I put my pattern instructions into print format. Most of my friends are texters: reading and typing are important in my daily life.

I called the optometrist’s office, and the technician said the blurriness may correct itself. Then she added, “If, however, things do not improve today or tomorrow – you may have to get another prescription to put over the contacts”. Uh … NO: that would defeat the purpose of the contacts! I already have glasses coming (ordered the same day I ordered the contacts), that should arrive in a week or so; I do not need another pair of glasses to wear with the contacts!

After my 4-hour morning “adjustment” period was over, I removed the contacts and put my glasses back on.

This morning I suffered another severe asthma attack (first severe attack was Christmas Eve, 2021) – compounded by chronic bronchitis: by the time my lungs had cleared and I could actually suck breath into my screaming lungs, tears were running down my face, soaking my pj top; and I had visible red strain marks on my face from brow to chin … my eyes were running nonstop, and swollen: getting contacts in them was not feasible.

So, when my tortured body settled back into an easy rhythm after it’s Red Zone experience; and I could talk without sounding like a gasping fish out of water, I called the optometrist’s office again and told them to cancel the Contacts Order. The contacts will not work for me. Whether my eyes “adjust”, or not, is no longer the issue. The frequency and severeness of the asthma attacks are the issue … and I am not going to pay good $$$ for a product my body will not be able to fully utilize. I have worn contacts before with success – but in this season of my life, they just won’t work. Letting contacts eyewear fall by the wayside does not send my entire life into a tailspin.

When I ended the convo with the peeved receptionist, I noticed that there was a break in the weather from 11 AM to Noon, so I pulled on some jeans and tied on my hiking boots.

Whenever possible, I do not allow asthma to handicap me 😉

I may not be able to wear contacts to help lessen the blinding effects of sunshine and headlight glare … but I can still enjoy my daily walks when the weather allows 😉

An adjustment not foreseen ...
I have glasses coming ... and that will be my future outlook on life's scenery.
Swallows were thick ... and quick, this afternoon along the Pacific Way Trail.
Mama Duck had a busy outing with her babies – all TWELEVE of them; she must be a veteran at successfully raising hatchlings ðŸ˜‰
Ring-neck Duck; male.
Nature's 'Chat Room'. LOL
A clump of Calla Lilies.

When I got back to the parked Highlander, I saw that there was enough time to make the Keenagers gathering; I hadn’t been there for a while, so I decided to go – even if I was dressed in my hiking grubbies.

I was still reasonably presentable 😊

Turning off Pacific Way, and onto Huntington, I was momentarily hung up by landscaping activities.

Landscaping holdup - Huntington Place jump road off Glenwood Drive, ties in with Laurel Road.
Keenagers (across from Montessori) on Columbia Heights, from Huntington Place Road; 3 mins.

I had been missed, and everyone let me know it, with squeals of “Val!” and enthusiastic hugs all around. I enjoyed myself, and when asked what I’ve been doing … I answered truthfully with a smile: “staying alive”.

And I laughed when that song, ‘Staying Alive’ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNFzfwLM72c) sung by the Bee Gee’s ran through my mind 😊

When I got back home – barely in the door – my phone rang: another friend needed some time outdoors and asked me if I wanted to go for a walk: I said, “Sure, I’m always game for a walk; do you want to meet out at Willow Grove, or should I come pick you up?” I went to pick her up. We had a nice leisurely riverside walk, shot the breeze on a variety of topics, and enjoyed being together.

Outside.

Soaking up the skimpy sunrays 😊

Kindness, sown in love, is a comfortable 2-way street that always leads to a happy disposition 😉

And I saw, when I got back home and kicked my shoes off … that a snippet of the Angel Wing Begonia plant I hauled home from an Oregon Grange Garage Sale … Bob and I had stopped at on one of our daytrip ventures nine years ago; had finally burst into blossom.

That memory made me smile.

Angel Wing Begonia Blossom; it’s been a looong time coming ðŸ˜Š

So, my day, that started out so precariously amended; ended happy, and on up notes as the day unfolded.