TheBanyanTree: A Half Full Glass

[Tom Smith]

I recently spent two weeks with my mother, who is
83.  We had our moments..  My greatest challenge
was trying to get her to see and appreciate the
good rather than wallow and rant about the bad. 
The eye doctor at an appointment I took her to
said, "I see a DRAMATIC improvement."  He showed
us before and after pictures of her retinas to
prove it.  

Macular Degeneration isn't supposed to get
better.  Mom could read letters a half inch high
6 feet away, she could spot flowers a half block
away and a loose thread on clothing.  She could
see her breath on a cold morning walk, but it
seemed like all she could think and talk about
was how much worse her vision is than it used to
be. 

My sister Linda called and I told her Mom had
just spent an hour reading a book in perfect
contentment.  Mom later expressed angry
resentment that I was making it sound like she
had no vision problem.   She raged "You didn't
say it was a large print book," and then
announced, "I'm going for a walk."  It was
raining, but I didn't say anything but "OK." 

When she came back, neither of us said anything. 
She revealed through her actions though what I
most wished for -she resumed reading her book.  

Tom
deserthiker2000 at yahoo.com



		
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