AuthorsDen.com   Join | Login    
Where Authors and Readers come together!

SIGNED BOOKS    AUTHORS    BOOKS    SAMPLE CHAPTERS    AUDIOBOOKS    eBOOKS    STORIES    ARTICLES    POETRY    BLOGS    NEWS    VIDEOS    SUCCESS    TESTIMONIALS

Featured Authors:  Terry Vinson, iLeanne Bright Cloudman, iLaura Cavanaugh, iDean Cambourakis, iRoger Vizi, iOdin odin@aflx.com, iDave Tabler, iLinda Alexander, iGracie McKeever, iLisa DAnnolfo Levey, i

  Home > Humor > Stories
Popular: Books, Stories, Articles, Poetry      Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z     

Chanti Niven

 Follow Me  

· Contact Me
· Articles
· Poetry
· News
· Stories
· Blog
· Messages
· 233 Titles
· 3,270 Reviews
· Save to My Library
· Share with Friends!
·
Member Since: Mar, 2003

Chanti Niven, click here to update your pages on AuthorsDen.


The lame leading the blind
by Chanti Niven
Tuesday, August 3, 2004

Not rated by the Author.

       
Recent stories by Chanti Niven
· A Mother’s Hell
· Wild Kids
· Imprints
· Chickens, World peace and Apartheid
· Finding my Father
· The Yard
· Nkosi Bayeti (a Zulu short story)
           >> View all 24


     An inSIGHT into an eye opener of a day.


I recently became sight impaired (a politically correct term for partially blind) due to a drug that was prescribed to me through a serious illness.  Here I am suddenly a young strapping lass with the eyesight of an eighty three year-old woman. At first I did not realise that I was going blind.  I thought I was overworking and suffering from eye-strain but I had to concede that something was happening when I held an entire conversation with pot plant thinking it was a member of my staff.  In truth this particular staff member doesn' t move around much and the pot plant was more responsive in any case.  Be that as it may, this incident did cause me to evaluate my up until then perfect eyesight and come to the startling conclusion that perhaps I was not seeing as well I ought to.  This evidence of my genius aside, my next step was to make an appointment with an optometrist.  This lady was really clever and after an hour of tests told me that I couldn't see.  Tell me something I don't know!

The optometrist referred me to an eye specialist.  After two hours of testing he told me that I could not see.  At least HE could give me a reason.  He told me that I could not see because I have cataracts in my eyes.  I nearly fell out of my chair...ummm his chair. 
"Cataracts, me? You're kidding right?  hahaha That is funny!  Ok what is the real problem?"
He confirmed his diagnosis and told me that I would need an operation to remove the damaged lenses.
"Those eye drops you gave me have made my eyes water," I croaked and he handed me a tissue and gave me a sympathetic pat on the arm.

My grandmother is a real English lady with a potato in her mouth.  Not a real potato but a tongue that behaves like one and gives her this terribly pompous sound.  I have at times been in danger of falling asleep while waiting for her to finish a sentence.  When my grandmother found out that I was going blind she called on the big guns. She insisted that her eye specialist had to give a second opinion before I went in for an operation.  I was ready for a second opinion if it meant that it was a better one than the one I had just received and so this morning I found myself being driven to her eye specialist.  I didn't have to see the road to know that the drive was harrowing.  I wore out the carpet on the passenger side of her car using the imaginary brakes.  We did, however, arrive in one piece and she parked right in front of the clinic in the paraplegic parking.


Moments later I was walking through the clinic or more precisely I was being led by my very old frail granny who insisted on holding my arm and walking very slo-o-owly.  Every now and again she would stop and say loudly, "Stay here dear and DON'T MOVE!"  I felt like a two-year-old but I did as I was told.  At one point I had to use the bathroom and sheepishly asked her if we could go to the ladies.  She steered me toward the bathroom and I had to convince her that I was quite capable of entering the stall all by myself.  I cringed when she said in a loud voice  "IF YOU NEED ANY HELP DEAR, KNOCK!"  (Sheesh gran I'm blind not deaf)

I almost didn't make it to the loo I was giggling so much.
 

 

Want to review or comment on this short story?


Need a FREE Reader Membership?


Reviewed by Anna Marie Fritz 9/30/2004
Once again, you and I have something in common, Chanti...
My eyes are not yet ready for the surgery, but the cataracts
are forming. I was on Prednisone for over a year (after the
2nd near-fatal car accident), and I blame THAT particular drug
for the state of vision I have (or don't have) now.
Even in this sorry state of affairs with your eye problems, you
manage to write a brilliant story...with touches of humor...even.
What a gal. You are an inspiration, for sure, for sure.
Reviewed by A Serviceable Villain 8/24/2004
Chanti -

You will be in my prayers - hope all goes well for you ...!

Robert
Reviewed by Tami Ryan 8/8/2004
Your Granny sounds like a real trip. (lol) I'm so sorry to hear of your woes and hope all goes (especially!) well with your surgery. As surely you know, your positive, upbeat and humorous attitude is imperative! Keep that chin up, UP, UP!

A thousand hugs,
Tami
Reviewed by Thomas Lanechanger 8/5/2004
Chanti, I am sorry to hear about this terrible event, and I do understand about your eye problems. You’re very fortunate that we live in a modern society, although sometimes it isn’t what it’s cracked up to be, as you well know. I read this somewhat light humored article, and I am happy to see you’re keeping your spirits up my friend. The article was well-written and helped to explain what happened to your eyes but, and at least today they have the ability to do surgery as an outpatient on someone’s eyes (just make sure it’s not the same doctor who prescribed the medicine for you…lol). I’m not laughing at your misfortune, and I think you know what I mean, Poet. I do hope you’ll once be able to see well again and be able to rejoin the den very soon. You are sorely missed. Thank you for sharing you wisdom and foresight my friend. You’re a true champion. Peace.
Reviewed by Karen Lynn Vidra, The Texas Tornado 8/3/2004
i have had eye trouble for years; am severely myopic! am blind as a bat without my cheaters! cute write about a not so cute problem; love your sense of humor in this! good luck in your forthcoming surgery; you will be in my prayers!

(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in tx., karen lynn. :D
Reviewed by Tinka Boukes 8/3/2004
5 up for Granny!!

Sorry to hear about your eye problem...
Glad you made it in time....the loo I mean..lol!!
Hope the "op" will be successful Chanti'

Love Tinka

Free Book Review Program
Select a book to read and review today!

Blöd Ties by Ian Thorpe

Blod Ties - Fantasy, Romance. Romantasy? A bit of whimsy for the weekend. A naive British tourist John Gormley takes a holiday in the ancient, remote kingdom of Perarboria. He does not suspect that his holiday love affair with a local beauty is desti  
Member BookAds

A Reader's Guide to Author's Jargon and Other Ravings from the Blogosp by Edward Patterson

A Collection of Daily Quotes, a glossary of author terms, a Drag Queens Advice Column and other tidbits, all wrapped up in one enjoyable volume  
Member BookAds

Jay Dubya's 53rd Book: PLOTS by Jay Dubya

PLOTS is Jay Dubya's 53rd book that satirizes in adult form major works of Poe, London, O. Henry. Twain and Shakespeare.  
Member BookAds