Head-on Collision on Route 66 (aka "OMFG")

How evocative are these?

• Route 66. 
• Americana. 
• Nostalgia. 
• Simpler times. 

[... Good words. Good thoughts. Right?]

But somehow Americana became very badly twisted. Like Detroit Steel in a head-on collision on an iconic road. Leaving behind blood-flecked shards of glass (but not from a glass ceiling.)

Just over 3 months ago, I wrote about choosing Baggage over Fear. I really thought Hope (even with Baggage) would prevail in the U.S. But I was wrong. Terribly wrong.

Am I surprised? Not entirely. We've seen intolerance, hatred and fear rearing its ugly head pretty well across the world. Everyone needs to "go back" to where they came from. Even though that might actually be Windsor, Ontario. Or Brooklyn, NY. Or Leeds, UK.

[... But someone who looks different from me must be from somewhere else. Right?]

I am very afraid that a lot of glass will be broken. And it will be bloody. People will be harmed. Because people who look different must be from somewhere else. Whether 3 years ago, 30 years ago, or 300 years ago.

And women? Well, women are just c*#ts. The pretty ones are prey... and it's always open season. And if a fugly one says she's been prey... well, she's obviously a liar.  A lying c*#t... because who would want a piece of that?

And women who dare to stand up as leaders - as intelligent, informed, rational, logical, and loyal human beings - they are the worst c*#ts of all, who need to be knocked down a few pegs to remind them of their station. Never let truth stand in the way of a good take-down.

Is this Americana? Is this nostalgia? Is this the legacy of getting your kicks on Route 66?

Yes. Yes. Apparently it is.

So Kill Hillary. Kill Obama (clearly shouted out during Trump's acceptance speech - yet not reported) Because they created ISIS, right? Kill all those who look different or think different, including those who just might think different. Who's got time to fact-check, after all?

Let's get back to simpler times. Homogeneous times. Homophobic times. Misogynist times.

Let's charge full-steam ahead. If we don't turn around, we won't see the destruction and devastation left in our wake. And let's ignore that "simpler times" are a very bad fit for today's complicated, nuanced, multi-faceted world.

[... It's simple. Right?]

When we lived in the U.S., I came to appreciate, on a very personal level, that logic and reason are not relevant on a political level. At that time, it was 'selective information' that ruled the day - ignoring/burying all reasonable facts that did not support your view and using/amplifying only those details that helped your chosen conclusion.

But now the disregard for logic and reason  has doubled down.

Hubris. Lies. Threats. These are today's discourse. And apparently, that's ok.

[... OMFG. Right?]

Keeping my Eyes on the Road

So I got a new eye last week.

OK, not the whole eye. But a pretty important part of it. It's a new lens. Because the old one was clouded by cataracts and not functioning very well. Driving at night was like traversing through a star-studded galaxy - lots of mystery and diffuse pinwheels of light. (Sure, that sounds pretty, but not really what you want when you're driving.)

So the left lens was replaced. It was the worst one, both in terms of the cataracts and the overall bad vision. From that eye, I now see bright colours. And stuff that's far away. Because I went for the cadillac lens. Some sort of flexible, multi-focal, top-line thing. After all, it is my sight we're talking about. Critical, right?

But now the right eye, which has been doing all the work for a very long time, is the poor cousin. It's struggling (and failing) to keep up with my super-eye. Leaving everything a bit discombobulated for me. Have to get used to it, though, as it will be about about another month before the right eye gets done.  Then, I will truly be bionic (currently, just 'onic') and can throw away all my glasses. But I am going to get me a really cool pair of shades. Non-prescription. Maybe some Ray-Bans (frankly, I don't even know what's cool anymore!)

If you ever get a chance to have cataract surgery, DO IT! The surgery itself was awesome!

They give you some stuff to numb your eye, but you are awake throughout. And it is totally, f*cking cool. Psychedelic. Kaleidescopic. Bright lights. Rich colours. All bleeding and pushing into one another. And watching the flexi-lens fluttering above, like a shiny, transparent butterfly, just before it was placed in my eye. Spectacular! (And I don't think it's just the Atavan talking.) Really wish I could have filmed it.

I sense a lot of upside to this change. Once the right eye is done and the eyes are more coordinated, holy moly. It'll be a new me.

Downside is that I have to put 4 different drops in my eyes 4 times a day for about a month, and I am still in the 'no-shower, no-shampoo' stage. (even the dog is keeping his distance.) And no eye makeup for 2 weeks. (Time to reveal my hereditary turtle eyes - thanks Dad!)

But all the little challenges will be worth it. I keep saying to myself "Wow. This is how most others must see the world! Spectacular!"

So I'll keep my (bionic) eyes focused on the road ahead. No more mystery and diffuse pinwheels of light.