A Loss

Its been a week of contradictions dragging me reluctantly back in time.

Admittedly I do that often, but willingly. Not so this week.

And it had nothing to do with either the election or the fact that yes, it is snowing. Neither were unanticipated.

Rather this happened because for the first time in over 40 years I have been unable to wear my contact lenses.

And while groping for balance, I remember the day I called for an optical appointment.

Mary, my youngest sister, and the family pioneer in many things, had phoned earlier in the day casually mentioning a recent purchase of new lenses.

Later that afternoon as he, our oldest son then 14 and I sat eating lunch, I said

“Someday I may try contacts.”

The only one of our four children who had shared a life and death experience with me upon arrival into this world, replied with emphasis:

“You had best hurry up, Mom. After all, you are forty.”

That very afternoon I made an appointment with Ralph T, whose expertise fitting lenses is and was renowned.

Now four decades later, I am still profoundly grateful to both Ralph and my son.

Relinquishing the dependable vision accuity of my contacts is only temporary, and I look forward to their resumption in the next week.

Without them I have been at a loss not only for vision, but equilibrium as well as energy.

Somehow it also relates to another far more important loss, the inexplicable loss of contact with one of God’s greatest blessings, the same always beloved child of mine.

And that is significantly far more painful than being without contact lenses.