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I remember the day I got my first pair of glasses. It was during my second-grade class, taught by Ms. Krueger, in the basement of the main school building in Bristol, South Dakota. My perception of reality was shaped by my vision, so my experiences in public school were different from others. I didn't understand until the fourth grade that the terms "lower" grades and high school had nothing to do with the location of the classrooms. Bristol Public Schools had grades one through four in two rooms on the lower level, which used to be a gymnasium with high ceilings and small "basement" windows at the top of the walls. Grades five through eight were on the first floor, and grades nine to twelve were on the top floor. It wasn't until I heard the joke, "Why did the student bring a ladder to school?" that I realized high school was not located in a higher level. This realization made an immeasurable difference in my education career, and while the joke didn't become any funnier, it made sense.
It was Ms. Krueger who suggested to my parents that they should have my eyes checked. As a result, I got my first pair of glasses, which was nothing less than a miracle for me. Previously, things that were conceptual or abstract became obvious, unmistakable, and clear. When I returned to the classroom, everything seemed like a marvel. I saw how tall the walls were and how small the windows looked. I saw Ms. Krueger for the first time and fell in love with her instantly. I also discovered that there were other kids in the class with me who were more than just blurry shapes with distinct voices. I realized that I was not alone on this journey, and each of my fellow travelers was trying to figure out where they were and where they were going, just like me.
As I approach my eightieth year, I find myself still struggling with nearsightedness - not just in a literal sense, but also in my understanding of the world around me. It seems that I am not alone in this struggle, as many people today seem to be navigating their way through a hazy, uncertain reality. It's as if we are all walking through a landscape of tall, fuzzy walls with windows or missiles towering above us. Without the right glasses, it can be difficult to make sense of the shapes and sounds around us. This myopia can have a profound effect on our behavior and our relationships with the world.
I think the solution for all of us is to get the right glasses. When I visited my eye doctor, they didn't just pick out a pair of glasses that looked good on me, but rather they tested, examined, gathered data, analyzed it and developed an equation to translate it into lenses that gave me normal vision. I believe this same approach can be applied to the way we perceive the world. To see reality clearly, we need to test, examine, gather data and adopt a rational and reasonable perception. By doing so, we can find others who are on the same journey and have the opportunity to walk together.
Why the ghoulish pictures, lol?