Cadillacs and Cataracts
By ice rivers
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According to figures released yesterday by the government, life expectancy has dropped for the first time in years. As of yesterday, that number is now 77 years. This means I can expect 3 more years.
I've got a lot to achieve in the next thousand days which means I've got a lot of changes to make....a veritable plethora of turning points.
Let's start with my doctor. I've got to stop seeing him as an enemy. He's trying to keep me alive by figuring out what's killing me and telling me about it so I can do something to confront whatever it is.
Then there's my career as an obscure artist. If I'm going to maintain that stature I've got to do even less marketing than I'm already doing which is pretty much the minimum.
If I want to make a name for myself, I have do more marketing.
What do I want to do? (Full Filler by Ice Rivers available on Amazon and kindle)
Technology has come to a turning point. After holding out for this entire century, I'm finally starting to use a cell phone. I didn't want to be available all the time to whomever wanted to find out where I was or what I was doing. I like my space. I don't like talking on the phone.
Furthermore, I've had a chip on my shoulder for those "photographers' who used the phone for their image captures. For Christ sake, if you're gonna be a photographer at least have a camera.
I've come to realize that the image capturing capability of cell phones is nothing to be sneered at. On my last vacation, I used my cell phone as my primary camera. I was/am pleased with the results.
Of course, I took a lot of cloud images while flying. I didn't see anybody else snapping pictures. I find that pretty amazing. The panorama outside the airplane window is so magnificent that it borders on the divine. Okay, maybe we've all looked at clouds from both sides now but sometimes, especially when we are flying through them, they are much less of an illusion.
I've even sent out a few texts, including one text that I sent while in the plane surrounded by clouds.
Man, I'm coming along in a hurry.
My vision needs a change as well. The last time I went in for an eye exam, the doctor asked me how I was seeing and I said "it all depends on how foggy my glasses are at any given moment."
He said "It's not the glasses. It' s the cataracts. It's a normal situation at your age."
Oh yeah, my age again.
I keep forgetting I'm an old guy falling apart.
I keep thinking I'm a young kid looking up at white clouds in blue skies with an eternity of life in front of me.
The eye doc suggested I get the surgery.
As usual, I didn't thnk so.
Grin and bear it.
Enough with the grinning and the bearing.
I'm gonna get the surgery.
Hey, we're only old once. Gotta make the most of it.
Finally, it's about time we get rid of our Cadillac. We've been driving Caddys for the last 25 years. A Caddy is a rock and roll car.
We don't need that style and profile any more.
We don't drive the car as much as we used to when we "got around."
We're settled down now.
Loving our home.
Hey, A Buick looks a lot like a Cadillac especially to a cloud eyed old fart with cataracts
We're about to buy a Buick.
Our Caddy went the distance.
Getting rid of the Cadillac and the cataracts
Now the rest of the distance is up to us.
There will be changes and turning points.
With less fog and more clarity
Less hog and more charity
And there will always be another story
Down the road, whatever we're driving.
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Comments
Great piece! I am sure you
Great piece! I am sure you will get well beyond the next three years on the strength of this!
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'Oh yeah, my age again.'
Nice piece; you've got a few years on me but I know how you feel.
Getting the 'fog' removed does make a big difference; the world is a lot brighter again.
Good luck.
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Love this introspective piece
Love this introspective piece of writing. The spirit of the child in you is evident and because of it you will not be pigeon holed by the age of the body, that youthful perception is what keeps life alive and the difference in how you live it. The skepticism of doctors,that I understand but the cataract surgery is one on all of our health 'will need to do someday boards', but it is worth doing it. Your clarity of sight returns and the vivid colors you didn’t know you were missing, will amaze you, I have family who've attested to this too. I love the idea of capturing the clouds with your phone camera, I never thought to do that but if I ever get over my fear of flying, I will have my camera at the ready…Thanks for sharing these thoughts icerivers, I so enjoyed reading and agreeing with you over my coffee today.
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