March 18th, and reading

Yesterday was my one-month anniversary from eye surgery. I can't believe it's only been a month.

I feel like my vision is really good, but I still have trouble focusing at times. I'm not sure if it's related to something or not, or if it's some astigmatism that will need corrective eye wear. It's not really enough distortion to slow me down, but it can be irritating. Like if someone asks me a question that requires me to read something far away and no matter how much I squint at it, I cannot make out the word(s). I do have quite a few floaters, too, which make focusing a bit difficult as well. I'm not sure what to do about that. There isn't a cure for floaters, although I read yesterday that they tend to dissipate after a while. I can only hope, right?

It hasn't kept me from reading books either, although I find the transition from reading text in front of me to focusing further away takes longer than I remember it did prior to the surgery. I think I've read three books in the last two weeks, which has been wonderful, as I hadn't read a book from late December through early March. The latest one, I finished last night: Cry, the Beloved Country. I had a feeling that I'd read it before, but when I reached the end, I knew I hadn't. It's such a beautiful story of love, redemption, hope, and mercy, even while dealing with death, corruption, hate, and segregation. I may put it on my list of favorite books. Paton is an excellent story-weaver, and upon reading the introduction which included a little bit of a speech he gave about the book, I can see his heart for South Africa and Africa as a whole throughout the novel. It is heart-breaking and yet hopeful.

I keep a running tab on all books that I've read, probably since 2006 or 2007. The latest additions (and near future ones, as well) are from a list of 40 classic novels that I found online. While I had read a sixteen already, I've added three in the last two weeks. The Catcher in the Rye (which I did not enjoy), The Call of the Wild (which I loved), and Cry, the Beloved Country. Next up I have Zora Neale Hurston's classic Their Eyes Were Watching God. A friend of mine did her senior English paper on this book, and I've wanted to read it since (that's 5 years, folks). I think I'll start today.

You'll remember, if you followed my post-surgery updates, that I had a scare with rubbing my eye only a week after the procedure. Well, I did it again last night, only I didn't freak out this time. It just irritated me that I did it. I've had no issue with this since I quit wearing the goggles to bed about a week ago. I don't know if I was subconsciously commemorating the anniversary of my surgery or what. But I think I'll be okay this time.

Next week I have my one-month appointment. Hoping for great news.