Better Than a Stick in the Eye
On Cataract Surgery and The Bionic Woman
I think I am becoming the Bionic Woman.
Do you remember that show? The Bionic Woman? It ran from 1976-1978. I was too young to watch the show, but I knew about it. My best friend, Angel, would tell me about it. She was allowed to stay up and watch all the good shows like, Wonder Woman, Charlie’s Angels, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, and The Bionic Woman. I, on the other hand, was tucked into my white, canopy bed, covered with my Holly Hobby bedspread, when those shows were on.
But I knew all about them, courtesy of Angel. I believe, at one point, I even received a Bionic Woman doll, but I don’t remember particularly playing with her because she was no Barbie. Now, in ironic twist of fate, I am becoming less Barbie by the day and my failing parts are being replaced by bionic parts and I find myself wishing I really did look Lindsay Wagner.
What brought this on, you may wonder. Well, I just had cataract surgery. Unlike Jaime Sommers, who after her bionic surgery, had superhuman capabilities, I am simply hoping that once my recovery is complete, I can drive at night and be able to apply eyeliner so that I no longer like a Phyllis Diller. (Currently, my left eye is so blurred that when I close my right to apply eyeliner, I just kind of guess where the lash line is and hope for the best.)
Did you know that cataract surgery is one of the oldest surgeries performed? In Babylon, they were poking holes in the cataracts of people (called couching) back in 1750 BCE[1]. This is a fact that, as I nervously awaited my first surgery, I reminded myself of-at least they aren’t just poking me in the eye. Side note: Do you think that’s where the saying, “Better than a stick in the eye.” comes from? Probably not, but I had a lot of time in pre-op to think about these things.[2]
These new eye lenses are not the first bionics that have replaced my failing systems in my body. I have been wearing hearing aids for eight years, I wear glasses (but after surgery only for reading!) and I have a dental crown that was made by computer in my doctor’s office while I waited in the dentist’s chair.
As glad as I am to live in world where all these things are possible, it is disconcerting to know that my original bits and pieces are slowly being replaced by man-made gizmos. I try not to think about it too much. There are days when I can’t help but wish I was whole again, that I didn’t need all this technology to keep me going, but I’m grateful to live in a time when I won’t go deaf or blind.
The biggest struggle is the aging part of all of this. My grandparents had cataract surgery when they were old. I swear I wake-up most days thinking I’m around 35, then I try to get out of bed and realize that’s absolutely not true.
I’m no Jaime Sommers, no Bionic Woman, but I’ll take these amazing technologies into my body and buy myself a little more time to enjoy this life.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_cataract_surgery
[2] It’s not, at least according to this website.
At the Check-Out Desk
There’s been a lot of talking about life here in The Cozy Library lately and not a lot of talking about books so I thought I would share a few recommendations with you.
Right now, we’re reading Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder over in the Modern Prairie Pages community. Join us if you are a fan. (For those who don’t know, I lead the book club for ModernPrairie.com, Melissa Gilbert’s lifestyle website for older women.) The community in the app might be what you are looking for if you are want a kinder & gentler social media option. Every month there’s an online book club meeting which I lead. And no, we don’t always read Little House on the Prairie books!
I’m also reading The Marriage Portait by Maggie O’Farrell. It’s historical ficiton about Lucrezia de Medici’s very short life & marriage to the Duke of Ferrara. It’s making me want to go back to Florence and Italy and see all the places mentioned in the book. I love O’Farell’s book about Shakespear, Hamnet too. (Note: Links are affiliate links for Bookshop.org and I will receive affliate compensation if you purchase the books via the links.)
What have you been reading lately?
Lovely post as always. I hope your healing is progressing well.
I loved watching the Bionic Woman when I was a kid -- and wanted to be her. Now? Not so much, but like you, I am grateful to have access to the technology that makes it possible for me to see, chew my food, and hear my kids tell me I'm cool (not!).