Changes & No Changes In My World

I WAS WISHING my recent visit to New Westminster was due to something more enjoyable than an appointment with an eye specialist to follow up on the laser surgery I had last year to repair tears to my retina. It was raining hard so a lot of people brought umbrellas that they parked on chairs in the waiting room. Each umbrella seemed to say something about its owner and I sensed a cheery attitude in the gloomy gray of one woman's selection.

Earlier at the parking lot it was impossible not to notice a monster hole nudging the side of what looked to be a lovely old heritage home. I can't remember what was there previously. But it is not unusual to see construction transformations everywhere.

I'm guessing that soon there will be a very tall highrise next to the small wooden structure similar to those in the background. The house clinging to its little patch of earth (photo, 2011) reminded me of my retina trying to stay attached to the back of the eye wall.

The doctor saw no change or worsening of my condition so it was a pleasant ride home in the rain. Gazing out the window I recalled similar weather during a previous visit. The rain is constant as are the mail carriers (pictured above) in their bright yellow coats who let "neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night ... " stop them from getting a letter to its destination. Technology has made communications so swift, however, that this traditional method is fondly referred to as "snail mail". Changes amid the sameness are inevitable.

I have also made changes to my blogging and will spend much of my time at Postcards From Penelope Puddle. Hopefully folks who have links to me now will visit me there. It is refreshing to create an alternate space like a different room in a house attached to the same place.

To enjoy more sights from around the globe visit Our World.

Copyright by Penelope Puddlisms

A Short Sighted World

MY WORLD INVOLVED a trip to the Retina Surgical Clinic in New Westminster, BC. Rain spattered on the car windshield as my husband drove me into the city last Friday. My view would be murkier were it not for the invention of glasses and laser surgery to stop the progression of tears to my retina. Such tears can lead to a detachment.

I treasure techniques available to improve my vision as well as prevent disaster. But although I don’t like my personal light shows, floaters and tears, I do enjoy seeing ripples of rain cascade down glass, distorting the world into an impressionist painting. There were more sights to see along our way.

In the mid-1800s during colonial times, New Westminster was briefly the capital of British Columbia. It has struggled to maintain its significance and resources over the years and recover areas fallen in disrepair.

Many older houses have kept up their charm while some have not. I found this well maintained home and street very appealing.

New and old structures can be seen side by side in the hilly city that climbs upward from the fringes of the Fraser River. Heritage events and a dedicated community keep New Westminster alive and in touch with its important past.

My husband parked the car after getting to the clinic early.

I watched passersby huddle beneath their umbrellas.

Newspaper stands brimmed with information about local and world events.

Most people hurriedly walked by without a glance.

I spied a few birds on some branches. They didn't seem to mind the drops and were singing amid the showers.

Inside the building were more umbrellas. Nearby offices were packed with people needing eye care. The long wait for my laser surgery was an opportunity to chat with other patients and to hear their stories. I spoke with a young diabetic woman whose retina tears began in her early teens and a fifty-five year old woman who suddenly woke up at the age of 38 with a partial detached retina. Another woman in her 70s was blinded in one eye by an infection during childhood and now her “good eye” had holes and tears.

I had enlightening conversations with people struggling to keep their sight intact. Fortunately, my eyes are examined regularly to resolve new issues quickly. But as we drove home I realized BC’s deteriorating health care system (which no longer provides free eye examinations every two years) contributes to undetected problems that are more serious and expensive to treat over time.

Sadly, BC's health care is oddly short-sighted when it comes to visual issues.

Eyes are our windows, and much like houses, in need of constant care.

Explorers can find more sites from around the globe at My World.

More Than Meets The Eye

SINCE FOLKS kindly commented on the vision issues I mentioned in my previous post, I wanted to add a small clarification about what I wrote. Like many, I am increasingly near sighted and have had floaters for years. Floaters are common (and as I understand it) usually due to harmless bits of broken gel behind the eye that the brain, in time, can actually forget is there. My floaters increased significantly, however, after a torn retina to one eye over a year ago. Since then, the other eye has also had an increase in visual anomalies … but no torn retina. The best guess is that my most recent and differing anomalies are due simply to more debris from detaching gel. In addition, the fluorescein angiogram I had showed drusen deposits. Although this can signal macular degeneration development, my doctor suggested I need not fear this potential visual impairment any time soon and quite possibly never. We all treasure our eyesight but when it is threatened, gratitude for life’s visual wonders (and excellent eyewear) overflows.

Visions Of A Long Life

LONG LIFE is what we all wish for knowing it is more possible when health is at its best. As questions of wellbeing come up, visits to Vancouver General Hospital and its enclave of buildings dealing with specific health issues seem inevitable. This includes the UBC Eye Care Centre near where the “Long Life Pl” street sign is and where my husband drove me to doctor appointments.

To get there, we went over the Oak Street bridge from where I saw a distant coastal mountain that looked much like an island floating in the clouds.

We arrived early so had time to explore the neighborhood.

First we had to park the car, however, which is expensive near the hospital. The cost is about $15 for two hours. Since appointments sometimes take longer due to minutes (even hours) of waiting for doctors behind schedule, it gets pricey. We were lucky to find a parking lot that charged a mere $12 for the day.


Enjoying the sights, we discovered Vancouver City Hall just a few blocks from the hospital buildings.

There were lots of pretty flowers along the way. These Impatients are often the first to arrive in summer and the last to leave.

We saw modern architecture mingling with older buildings.

Of course, there is always new construction going on downtown.

Incorporating older and newer buildings works nicely in areas such as this where two distinctly different looks created the appealing City Square Mall.

Inside the mall there were many shops to explore and places to eat.

Prized fruit from local BC farms were displayed like works of art.

There were bouquets and plants of all sorts that begged to be taken home.

Mannequins tempted passersby with their charming outfits.

When I entered the building for my first appointment, I found many artistic renderings covering the walls. This portion of a work by BC artist Peter Winterhalter-Aspell, painted in 1987, gave me a bit of a fright.

My photograph does not do justice to this gorgeous painting by Maria Sammarco donated to the Eye Care Centre. It gave me a lift as I went through various tests that took hours to complete, including a fluorescein angiogram. In the end, I found good news mixed with inconclusive results.

I walked to the car under an archway of trees appreciating all the wonders around me. Although it's unlikely I have blocked vessels in back of my eyes, I am left with some unexplained issues. But thankfully there have been no new tears to my retina or new floaters. Having had poor vision since childhood, my ability to see the world is valued beyond treasure.

In the mirror, I saw the sun trying to break through as we headed home. I looked past the clouds and was thrilled to simply enjoy the view.

Explorers can discover more sites from around the globe at My World.