A FRIGHTENING DAY & AN UNNERVING ONE

 

Driving in rain or rush hour traffic is something I try to avoid at all costs. I’ve had to overcome anxiety attacks just to get behind the wheel. And now I have posterior vitreous detachment in both eyes. This happened shortly after cataract surgery in 2017.

What this means is that I see light flashes as well as 3 different kinds of eye floaters: big black ones, little brown ones, & gelatinous of various sizes that are the worst. Yes, there is a surgery to correct this, but I neither have insurance nor the money to pay for it. So, I must live with it and adjust.

Not long ago, it was necessary to meet with my CPA. After I left, it was only sprinkling outside, but soon it began storming. My windshield wipers were going great guns, but all I could see was gray along with the headlights of oncoming cars. And too many cars in front of me had no lights on at all! Mine were not enough, I needed this to see the road ahead of me.

The heavy downfall was blinding. I couldn’t even see a place to turn in and pull over. Rounding a corner I hit a curb and felt one side of my car go up. I thought my car was going to flip over, but it didn’t. I honestly thought I’d never make it home alive, but I did.

My last eye exam felt like something out of the Twilight Zone. It happened at a time I hated to be out, late in the afternoon. This meant I would be driving home in rush hour traffic.

The waiting room was crowded, except for the very back. Along one wall was a lengthy desk filled with busy workers.

I went to the check-in and was given papers to fill out. I walked to the far back where it was empty, I sat with my back toward the crowd.

Almost immediately, a strange woman who looked around 60 came and sat directly across from me. Every time I looked up, I found her staring fixedly upon me with her body leaning forward as if studying me. This creeped me out!

After filing out the paperwork, I moved to a crowded section leaving no room for her to follow.

Wait times are always lengthy in these places, but this one took it to a whole new level; even after a nurse seated me in a room. A tedious wait ensued. Normally this was my nap time and I was missing it. However, since I was reclining, I let myself fall asleep in the exam chair.

When I awoke, I had no idea of time. I wasn’t wearing a watch, nor do I own a cellphone. I got up and walked outside. The waiting room was now empty, as was the long desk. Apparently, the employees had all gone home.

I started to panic! Was I alone in there, and locked in?

Fortunately, I spotted a doctor and flagged him down. “Have you forgotten me?” I exclaimed. “Have you any idea how long I’ve been here?”

He apologized and led me back to the room for an examination. My vision, the posterior vitreous detachment had not changed since the previous visit.

Being summer, it was still light outside. And thankfully rush hour traffic was over. Most people were now at home, or else engaged in happy hour somewhere. I felt relieved! To me, happy hour is home at my kitchen table where I was soon to be. The end of a long, strange afternoon.

SINGERS & A MEMORY

 

I’ll venture a guess that most of the younger generation have never heard of Connie Francis, although she was quite a popular singer, actress and celebrity when I was a child. I enjoyed her as an actress, along with her movies. She was a petite woman with a powerful voice. And she possessed a vibrant personality that exuded genuine warmth. But when it came to singers, I was more of a Leslie Gore fan.

Back then, it seemed every time I turned on the radio Leslie was belting out: “It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to!” I loved bopping around to that song and Leslie sang it with gusto. I often joined in with my shrill off-key voice.

Leslie’s songs were geared to young teens & pre-teens like me. Connie’s were for an older, more sophisticated crowd.

By the mid 1960’s both singers’ popularity was on the wane. The public’s taste had changed, and they were being replaced by rock groups. However, Connie & Leslie still had their fans.

Fast forward to the 1974, I was shocked and saddened to learn that Connie Francis was raped at knife point in a hotel room after being awakened from sleep. She sued the hotel chain, stating faulty locks. She won! But the large amount was not enough in my opinion. No woman should have to endure that!

Her attacker was never caught.

But I dispute the faulty lock, based on a personal incident.

During my elementary school years, Miami was almost my home away from home. My parents loved the shopping & nightlife there. So, we spent at least one weekend a month there.

I was too young for the nightlife, and I found the shopping tedious, so I spent much of the time cooped up in a motel room. At night, my parents didn’t usually return until long after midnight.

One evening, they were exhausted and decided to stay in. We went to bed around 11:00 PM. About twenty minutes later while still awake, I heard a key turning in the lock. Suddenly light from outside came streaming in. A heavy-set man in a suit entered.

My father hollered out, “You’re in the wrong room!”

The man mumbled an apology and hastily departed.

What unnerved me most was the stranger’s key fit our lock, making it easy for him to enter. I began to wonder if all motel/hotel locks & keys were secretly interchangeable. I doubt Connie Francis lock was faulty, any more than ours!

And I was fortunate that my parents decided to stay-in that night.