Low Vision

How Good Are Old People

So, this is my fifth post in a sitting and I will finish this on a positive.

A few weeks ago, I was at the supermarket with a carer I don’t often have. I’ve had her before but it takes time to build a relationship with a carer so they can know my preferred products and how they manage my busy brain when I just wanna do Social Helen. Also how to navigate my low eyesight and the trolley and all the things.

We were at the checkout and she had unpacked the trolley and then moved around behind me to the outside of the checkout. In front of her was an elderly man and I mean Elderly. I caught sight of him in my good peripheral vision on my right. He had a trolley and was without speaking out loud communicating to someone on my left in my blind spot that they were there and they had a trolley. I turned to my left and saw the equally elderly lady who obviously matched the man on the outside on the checkout. I said to her “You are in my blind spot and I don’t have a husband, but I understood everything he was trying to communicate to you.”

I swear to God! This is what I love about the elderly. She responded with “Be careful what you wish for!” I asked how long they had been married, I think she said, “Sixty years” “You get less for murder!” I told her.

It’s a standard Baby Boomer reply to such circumstances which always sounds wrong but is very amusing.

Stupid

Now, it might surprise you to know that I get asked a lot of stupid questions. I’m generally pretty good at dealing with the ‘stupid’. At times I disappoint myself, I’ve not been able to shut down the ‘stupid’ with my first answer, so when the ‘stupid’ continues if in public, others will usually witness my frustration before the ‘stupid’ person does.

Stupid questions

Fifteen years ago, when I was working and asked stupid questions when on the phone, I would bang my phone on the surface of my desk several time. Next time it happens to you, try it.

Smile to your face

It really can bring a smile to your face.

If the person on the other end of the phone asks what that was for, you can just respond with “That was a stupid question.”

Thats a stupid question

I digress, I wear a badge on my cuff and collar from Vision Australia that CLEARLY STATES.

“I HAVE LOW VISION”

And this is the state of the ‘stupid’

A guy on the tram today, presumed it meant I worked there. Which I’ve found is common because people are idiots and don’t read.

Idiots

I always respond to this misassumption that they should read the badge. This doesn’t mean they bother to read it then, but still, this guys level of ‘stupid’ was next level. He wore glasses, but that’s not really relevant to his question. I imagine he is unaware of what Vision Australia actually does.

https://visionaustralia.org/

You don’t go there for eye tests or diagnosis. The health of my eyes is perfect. However, it’s what’s going on in my brain with my AVM that has permanently affected my vision loss and it’s not coming back.

Low Vision not good