Pirate School

 

by Pa Rock

Pirate Wannabe

Greetings from Springfield, Missouri, the "Queen City of the Ozarks, where I am once again holed up in a hotel with one eye hidden by a patch and the other experiencing blurry vision from overwork. I had cataract surgery on my right eye this morning.  Two weeks ago I had. the same procedure on my left eye..  Both surgeries went smoothly, and I could not be more pleased with my eye care provider - Matttux Neu Prater Eye Clinic of Springfield - and its highly competent and cheerful staff.

(I am writing this on Monday evening following this morning's surgery, and I will post it on Tuesday as I head back to the clinic for the firsst of two followups.  By it being the second identical surgery in two weeks, I have learned the routine!)

Cataract surgery is a relatively simple procedure - from the patient's perspective - and one that many old people experience.  The hard part comes when I get home and have to start the eye drops regimen.  I am now taking a total of four (I think!).   My left eye will be getting one drop a day from three different eye droppers, and a second drop from one of those - and my right eye will be receiving four drops a day (at different times) from two eye droppers, and two drops a day from two others.  In addition I have one eye drop that each eye will receive once at bedtime.  I'll do the best I can.  Maybe when the patch comes off in the morning I will even be able to read the labels.  I probably need an at-home nurse to manage my life.

One ringy dingy . . . two ringy dingies . . . "Hello, hospice?"

My youngest son, Tim, told me this morning that he remembers when he was small and his granddad came home with a patch over his eye after eye surgery,  (Probably the same procedure that I just experienced.)   Tim said that he asked me why Granddad was wearing a patch over his eye, and I told him that he had just been to pirate school - and he believed me!

I'm glad Tim remembered the little nugget of family history, because I had completely forgotten it.

Mattux Nu Prater gives each of their surgery patients a small gift as they leave after eye surgery:  Things like water bottles and ball caps with the clinic name on them, as well as small live plants attractively potted.  Two weeks ago I chose a plant and gave it to Ranger Bob - who had provided me with a ride to the clinic - for his wonderful wife, Sandy.   This time I chose a ball cap and will probably give it to our big dog, Gypsy, who loves caps.  She has eaten several of Nick's.  I will tell her that I got it at pirate school!

Good vision is important to this old hillbilly.  It saves him from stumbling around in the darkness.

Keep smiling and stay focused!