The Edges of Things
I've been wearing glasses since I was 9. The years prior were a blur (literally) of smeared color and horrible car sickness. For some reason, poor eyesight really messes with the inner ear. But then I got checked out and fitted and WOW, I could SEE things! Leaves on trees! Edges of shadows! The tops of mountains! It was a complete and total revelation, and it changed my life.
I discovered that summer that reading was much easier with my new glasses, and picked up some of my mom's books. By the end of that summer my love for science fiction was born and I was reading at a college level. I was also getting used to being called "four eyes" and "nerd", which put me firmly in a category I wouldn't be able to escape until high school.
When summer was gone, I started looking forward to going back to school. We lived in Buellton, a little town near Santa Barbara in Central California. Alas, it was not to be - my parents sold their business and moved us all to Colorado. Which was beautiful, but made me completely miserable. I had no social skills. I was quiet. I'd much rather notice the world around me than flap my lips, but fifth graders usually interpret that as "stupid" or "freaky".
A year that started so wonderfully with the simple gift of sight ended with a lot of realizations that most 10 year olds don't get the opportunity to make. I was awkward. It was hard for me to talk to people and make friends. I'd rather read a book by myself than fraternize just for the sake of being accepted. I also discovered an unholy love for individually wrapped cheese slices, but that's a story for another day.
I'm still like that kid in a lot of ways. Far less awkward, because I've managed to figure out who I am. More social skills because hey, you can't let 20 years and two long term relationships go by without learning at least a little bit about how people interact. But I'm still pretty quiet. I love that I still notice the leaves on trees and the edges of things. I love that I still have an appreciation for sight and the ability to see the beauty around me. I love that I can look back to that 9 year old kid and realize that the simple act of getting glasses made a large part of who I am.
It's been a long road from that summer 22 years ago.
And frankly, I'm really glad I've had glasses while traveling that road, because really - it would suck to be carsick for that long.
I discovered that summer that reading was much easier with my new glasses, and picked up some of my mom's books. By the end of that summer my love for science fiction was born and I was reading at a college level. I was also getting used to being called "four eyes" and "nerd", which put me firmly in a category I wouldn't be able to escape until high school.
When summer was gone, I started looking forward to going back to school. We lived in Buellton, a little town near Santa Barbara in Central California. Alas, it was not to be - my parents sold their business and moved us all to Colorado. Which was beautiful, but made me completely miserable. I had no social skills. I was quiet. I'd much rather notice the world around me than flap my lips, but fifth graders usually interpret that as "stupid" or "freaky".
A year that started so wonderfully with the simple gift of sight ended with a lot of realizations that most 10 year olds don't get the opportunity to make. I was awkward. It was hard for me to talk to people and make friends. I'd rather read a book by myself than fraternize just for the sake of being accepted. I also discovered an unholy love for individually wrapped cheese slices, but that's a story for another day.
I'm still like that kid in a lot of ways. Far less awkward, because I've managed to figure out who I am. More social skills because hey, you can't let 20 years and two long term relationships go by without learning at least a little bit about how people interact. But I'm still pretty quiet. I love that I still notice the leaves on trees and the edges of things. I love that I still have an appreciation for sight and the ability to see the beauty around me. I love that I can look back to that 9 year old kid and realize that the simple act of getting glasses made a large part of who I am.
It's been a long road from that summer 22 years ago.
And frankly, I'm really glad I've had glasses while traveling that road, because really - it would suck to be carsick for that long.
coughed this up at 12:40 PM
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