Forever "Not Old"

Anything but "old." Un-young? Hardly. Today's New York Times Magazine has a piece on middle-aged Boomer eyewear you might want to check out. It's title Optic Nerve and talks about Amy Sacks Eyewear, a high-fashion eyeglass business for Boomers created by a woman who retired from a successful business, Ann Sacks Tile and Stone.

Named for her 21-year-old-daughter, the company offers "simple, architectural" shaped glasses which sell for around $85.

Me? I buy Dr. Dean Edell's at Longs. Crappy little ill-shapen things that work just fine for my flagging eyesight. I sit in front of a computer all day and when I have the chance to ride the bus or ferry, am devilishly frustrated that I can't just pick up a newspaper left on the seat and read it. My eyes have started to crap on me. Crap, crap, crap.

My diminishing eyesight, slow and ever so relentless, is a source of true existential aggravation. I read a lot, too, so they're an absolute must for me now.

I remember the first time I discovered that my eyes weren't the tools of exactitude that I once thought they were. I was living in Seattle and noticed that if I put my palm up to my face, I could no longer distinguish the fine lines on it. My fingerprints were blurs where once had been a fine fabric of swirls and lines. I went to an eye doctor who just warned me it would get worse with time. He was right. That was 1990. Argh.

Anyway, this is just one cross that Boomers must learn to bear. I agree that I don't want to grow "old" but I also refuse to accept "un-young". "I am what I am," as my hero Popeye says. Maybe I can just eat more spinach and learn to squint? (Popeye's theme song).