Sometimes we don't fully appreciate something until it starts to change.
For me, that something was my eyesight.
This year, I went through cataract surgery on both eyes. My left eye was done on September 10, followed by my right eye on September 29.
Today, October 2, I can honestly say that I am seeing the world with remarkably clear vision again.
And there is something else that still feels a little amazing to me:
I don't need my glasses for everyday distance vision anymore.
After years of depending on glasses, looking around and seeing things clearly without them feels like a small miracle.
The left eye surgery came first. After the procedure, I gradually noticed the difference. Then came the right eye. The two surgeries were only a few weeks apart, but the result became especially noticeable once both eyes had recovered.
Now I can look around and see things clearly with both eyes working together.
Even driving feels different. I have now been cleared to drive, and being able to get behind the wheel again gives me another little piece of independence.
Of course, I am still following the instructions from my eye doctor and taking recovery seriously. My next follow-up appointment is this coming Monday, when my eyes will be checked again.
For now, though, I am simply enjoying the experience.
At 80, I have learned that we sometimes take ordinary things for granted—walking comfortably, having a coffee with a friend, driving to the mall, reading a sign, or simply looking out the window.
Clear eyesight makes all those ordinary moments a little more enjoyable.
This morning, I was at Markville Mall having my usual coffee and muffin. I looked around and thought about how much I appreciate being able to see things so clearly.
It reminded me that growing older isn't only about dealing with what we lose.
It is also about appreciating what we still have—and celebrating the improvements that come along the way.
Two eyes, two surgeries, a few weeks of recovery, and now a clearer view of the world.
Not a bad chapter for Grandpa Journey.
And yes, I am still learning to live without reaching for my glasses!
Keep going, Grandpa. Your stories are worth telling.