Notes. Blurred Vision

I'm amused while writing this 'aging and life over forty' essay. We all know it, everything is youth based which makes women in particular prone to be a bit neurotic when it comes to the subject of aging because of the images we are inundated with on a daily basis. Part of my desire to do this blog is to share some of the thoughts you don't really see in magazines.

If you've worn glasses all of your life you might not relate to this post. If you are of a certain age and have found yourself squinting, holding menu's far from your face and back again close enough to your nose to smell the page or menu - this is for you. If you're older, never had to wear glasses in your life and coming to terms with the fact that your eyes and vision are changing? Read on.

I was in denial for quite a while and suffered through blurred vision while trying to read small print. I was squinting like crazy. Visa and passport forms, ingredients on labels or even trying to read a book or magazine article after a certain time of day had become my enemy and were accompanied with thoughts of 'Oh, no'.

Determined not to become the old lady with the glasses dangling from her neck I prolonged the inevitable; getting my eyes checked and being told the dreaded "You'll need a prescription for reading glasses, no more 20/20 vision." "How can this be cute?", I thought. It was silly vanity and I recognize it. I feel so young, surely my eyes felt the same way. This was not to be and after a hilarious dinner with friends where the lighting was a bit too ambient for all of us, we laughed acknowledging how we all felt. Each of us was in the same dreaded boat titled 'Your Eyes Are Going Bad'. Holding a tealight or votive candle or other tiny form of illumination closely to shine a light on our food choices was no longer doing the trick. Neither was extending your arms from your body with menu's in hand, as if by doing so and apparent magic, the words would appear large enough to read. If you've been there, I hope you're having a good laugh right now with me.

It's been several of years now, and I'm still not the lady with the glasses dangling from her neck. I'll never get one of those chains unless I become a seamstress. Instead, I've made a decision that if I must wear them I'll find the pair which suits me best. Lasik surgery or anything like that is out of the question because the very thought frightens me and putting in contact lenses - forget about it.

Currently, I've really come to love my Oliver Peoples 'Ari' glasses. They're like chic nerd glasses or perhaps I was channeling a sexy school teacher. Whatever the case, the frame is a vintage inspired square masculine shape in what they describe as 'olive tortoise' color, with a brown hue. I tried on at least 10 pair in the optical boutique before choosing them. Luckily I had a patient and understanding sales associate. I've gone through 3 styles from Paul Smith and Chanel over the past few years, but these are my favorite. People always compliment them when I wear them, but best of all I can see what I'm trying to read or on this case - type!

Another lesson learned, now that I need them, is to always keep a spare pair on hand - but that's another post.