I just collected my first ever pair of prescription glasses. I'm wearing them now and despite the fact that I can't see myself in them, I'm excited!
I started wearing plus one magnifiers just before turning 50. But in the past couple of weeks I'd noticed that eye-strain feeling. On a whim I dropped into an optometrist across the street from my workplace and had a free Medicare eye test from a lovely young Vietnamese-Australian optometrist, Margaret. She said I had more than excellent eyesight in general [I've inherited my share of physical problems from my parents, so I'm talking up this superior attribute], 20/20 in fact. But my close reading eyesight is actually in need of 1.75 maginification. So the lovely Damien helped me choose some new lenses from the half-price rack (which still set me back $100) and Margaret wrote up a prescription ($250). She said they'd be ready in about three days. So I was surprised to receive a call today saying I could come and collect them. I hurried across and Damien, who appeared to be grinding and polishing something at the back of the store, said "They'll be another 5-10 minutes".
"But someone called and said they were ready", I said, confused. Margaret then appeared and supplied the explanation - an American tourist who is my "doppelganger" had dropped her glasses in for repair and was coming back for them soon. Damien had mistaken me for her. Apparently all 50 year olds look the same (both he and Margaret are about 23.)
My glasses were ready, though, which was the main thing. The frames are black rectangles with daringly stylish sparkly dots on the side [I hope they don't look Edna Everidge-ish.] I must be coming to terms with the ageing process to be feeling so good about this. I just hope I don't lose them, in a display of 50-something forgetfulness.
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