N.B.: I am not ill; I have not been out of the country in the last 30 days; however, since I am in several high risk groups for the coronavirus, I am staying home and “social distancing” from others through my own choice.
Last Wednesday I had cataract surgery on my left eye. I was scheduled for the second cataract extraction on April Fool’s Day; however, I have postponed my right eye surgery until this now increasingly prevalent virus has its prevalence curve bent sharply toward the x-axis..
This leaves me with two world visions, two realities.
My left eye now sees the world through a white and blue lens: clear, vibrant, happy and optimistic.
My right eye sees the world through a green/yellow tinge that falls on the drear and gloomy edge of the color spectrum.
The funny part of this different vision is that, before last Wednesday’s surgery, I thought I was seeing the world through lenses that were blurry, but genuine in color, not dolorous, as I now realize my world view had become. It didn’t happen overnight. The cataracts had been seen by my Ophthalmologist for well over a year, but not until recently was the vision clouded enough for me to schedule the surgeries.
The dichotomous images I perceive today offer me some literal insight. They remind me that, looking through my right eye, in order to avoid the scourge of this disease, I must be vigilant in keeping my social distance from humanity. On the other hand, looking through my left eye, I am reminded that I  am still inextricably attached to that same humanity through the optimism and, most importantly, reasoned actions that will help us all to survive. Not to mention our smartphones, televisions, books, Netflix and poetry. Even Village 14!