Now we see through a glass darkly

I had an eyesight test on May 19th.   The news is mainly good with no signs of glaucoma or macular degeneration. I have mild cataracts which do not need attention for now.

 I needed a new "script" for reading glasses.  (I use progressive lenses, the top part being plain glass and the bottom to correct my reading vision - 'cause I "hate" having to take my glasses on and off for reading or for driving,)

I also wanted to use my existing frame partly because it is in good shape, and partly because I like the design - (which  is no longer available).

The new lens arrived on June 3rd.  Woe upon woe they did not fit tightly into the old frame.

So on June 3rd the Optician sent the old  frame and new lens back to the manufacture for a  new fit (with reground lens),

I was told that this process would take between a week and ten days.  So for that time I used my "standby" spectacles from two prescriptions back.

This was not good,  I could read the newspaper if I held it about a foot from my nose. I could not read internet mail and pages without magnifying them.  Reading my Hamilton book was impossible.

I had to use a magnifying glass to read an e-mail address on a business card.  All this made me think about my late friend Ben M, and my living friend Betty M who both suffer(ed) from Macular Degeneration which makes (made)  their lives so very complicated.

Mercy me, my new lens and old frames came back yesterday, only five days after they had been returned.  This is good,

Old glasses (l)_  New lens with older frame (r)

If you think this is mundane or parochial i agree!

Anything to take my mind away from the speculations, masquerading as opinion, in turn masquerading  as news about Trump/Comey/May.

BLAH

From Arbroath Scotland - so very delicious

A birthday gift from my friend Rick R.  Thanks Rick

Does the father have to be Hispanic?

From a congregation near my home

Primer on the Amish

Sarasota residents are used to the sight of Amish men and woman as they ride their tricycles in the Pinecraft area, especially in the winter

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Many of we Sarasotans, alongside people from other places view them as quaint, anachronistic, somewhat alien - but a good tourist attraction.

Others see them as the ideal Christians, living the  plain and uncluttered lives for which we sometimes yearn.

We know little about their history, and can be easily confused about the various Amish groups, and the differences between Amish and Mennonite people.

Lazy thinkers see Amish as "exotic Quakers", or Hutterites, or Moravian Christians.

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I was fortunate enough to take a four session course titled "Amish Customs and Practices" at Sarasota's  Suncoast Technical College.  It was taught by a local resident J.B,.Miller who was born into an Amish family - though he himself was never baptised into the Amish Church. J.B. Miller knows more about the Amish and Mennonites than many of us know abut our own religious traditions.

J.B. Miller disabused us of  many myths and misconceptions about the Amish in his honest and gentle presentations.

He recommend the following book

Published by Johns Hopkins  University Press 2015 $16.95

Thanks to a birthday gift of a Barnes and Noble Gift Card I was able to purchase the book.  I recommend it without reservation.  It is scholarly. honest and utterly accessible. Do not sound off about the Amish until you have read it!.

My grievous errors unmasked at Church this morning

It was only after I made a sassy remark to Matt O'Farrell (one of the Ushers) just before  Church this morning that he exposed the error of my ways.  I drove all the way to Church without noticing this.

Observant eyes will also notice that I was wearing a left shoe on my right foot.

I need a valet!

Photo's for family

From Auntie Irene's stash of photo's, via Janet Draper.

I can't identify them all but you will see Maureen and Jean with Nanny Povey  (I have only one other photo' of her);  Mum, Dad, Maureen, Jean - all in hats!   - John and Elizabeth are babies (Mum had a copy of this one); Maureen and  Rosemary (?) with Mum, Auntie Phyll and Uncle Albert (I think that's him);

Enjoy!   Janet may be able to identify some of these.

Who is the woman looking at them?