Over the years I've found that writing about the informal aspects of being a part- or full-time 'Blindy' is an odd way to pass the time. It often presents 'challenges' (what we used to call 'problems').
While I prefer the lighter side, it’s understandable that some folk take it seriously. It’s a unique experience and a test of perseverance and tolerance for everyone concerned. As regular readers know, I like to poke around the issue and share my 'narrative' (what we used to call ‘opinion’). I do this to remind myself that while things ain't what they used to be, the world’s still capable of dishing up the odd giggle. As retinitis pigmentosa (RP) niggled away at me, instances of tongue-in-cheek stoicism get a bit tougher to dig up, though the half-invented stuff must make more interesting reading than a paragraph on my daily battle with remote controls.
Years ago, I used to do a regular balance sheet on the state of my vision, which involved an annual trip to the optometrist for a lens upgrade, followed by a web surf for the latest piece of electronic wizardry that would keep the dreaded 'total loss' at bay for as long as possible. Those were the dream days of half denial, nursing the hope that while the specialists agreed I had RP, they could be overstating the effect. However, it turned out to be all they claimed and after a while I settled into reality. I'm not altogether sure how I'd react now if a cure did come along – blindness tends to become habit forming and I've got a bit too lazy for in-depth searches for the details and causes that don't seem that important now the thing's a constant companion. Sure, it’s mildly interesting, but the result's already in the bag and at my age I reckon it doesn't pay to clog up the thought passages unnecessarily – it makes life easier if you keep things light. As my father once said, "If misery's inevitable, poke fun at it; it beats worrying."
Deafness, dexterity and deciphering
I'm writing this in the middle of a level-4 lockdown and it seems that along with the visual stocktake it’s a good time to rummage around in the attic as well. Other challenges have crept up lately – hearing aids have been to be added to the battery-powered armoury now deemed essential to my waking hours – which could creep in and rattle the old sangfroid. It’s like teenage angst all over again, but I'm not going there. I reckon these challenges just need a bit more planning than daily A-to-B navigation.
