Contacts

Since I've been in denial of my failing vision for the past, oh, five years or so - I rarely take a picture without pulling my glasses off first. It's not a vanity thing, it's that in my minds eye, I don't see myself as having glasses. I'm not that girl. Sure, I can't watch a movie or see what time the clock across the room says without them - and it's true, I can't pass a drivers eye exam (said to me at the last time I renewed my license: "Uh, so, can you at least see colors? Like, Red and Green? Ok...I'll renew your license, but promise me you won't drive without glasses.") But, glasses just aren't me - I'm not someone who needs glasses. I just wear them for pleasure. (You know, for the pleasure of being able to see.)

I've finally reached a point where I no longer want to be squinting to see if someone is making eye contact with me or not.

I'm tired of wincing and shrinking back as a reflex whenever my son waves his hand at my face - fearing the contact of child's-hand on parents-glasses. Glasses may be fragile, but they're also hard and hurt when pushed too hard against the bridge of your nose. I have the marks to prove it.

Actually, the permanent little bump on my nose from my Dunkin Donuts incident might be attributed to the force of my glasses colliding with the window and then being forced down onto my nose. Ever since then, they've been uncomfortable to wear, and I've had headaches.

But, bruises and headaches aside, I really just want to see without wearing these crooked, face-dominating, glasses anymore. And so, after years of saying "I don't think I could ever do contacts. I can't touch my eye..." I went out and stuck my finger right in there, like a woman on a mission.

Not only am I now, officially, glasses-free - but it turns out my prescription had gotten a bit worse over the past, um, three years, since my last appointment (amazing what two pregnancies can do to you vision.) And, so things are clearer now. Like, the pack of wild turkeys I almost ran over on my way to work this morning. Seeing as Turkeys don't glow in vibrant hues of red or green, they're probably just as thankful as I am that I got my eyes checked.

And my kids - I can actually nuzzle near to them, without those spectacles jabbing them in the cheek and without fear of their sticky little hands tugging my glasses off and smudging the lenses, or worse, breaking them. (Though, I still shrink back when The Boss starts swatting at my face...but I think that's just common sense. The kid's got a good right hook. I'm just happy to see it coming now.)