Why is Friday the 13th considered unlucky but Monday the 13th isn’t? That seems just…wrong, somehow. LOL Also, it’s the Monday after Super Bowl. Who’s hungover from food and/or drin? Don’t be shy, raise your hands. 🙋🏼‍♀️ I’m making burgers tonight. They were yummy and we didn’t munch our way through the game. Traditionally, I list my favorite commercials watched during the Super Bowl. And yes, I’ll actually watch this year. I don’t have a team favorite–reasons for rooting for both teams but I’m kinda pulling for the Chiefs. Anyway. I’m actually typing this on Sunday afternoon before the game starts and if I get back around to adding the commericals, yay! If not, y’all can tell me your faves–if you watch–in the comments. And yes, the tense shifts if this paragraph are enough to give an editor apoplexy. Normally, if I set up the blog a day early, I use the tense I’d use as if writing the day of posting. Anyway…here’s what’s going on.

So. First off, starting tomorrow, I won’t be on-line much for at least two weeks. It may take a bit longer than that. Depending on how things go, I may be on-line sporadiacally. It all depends. And no, I’m not being deliberately obtuse. I’m getting ready to explain. First though, an apology. I really hoped to have CROSSFIRE ready to publish by Valentine’s Day. That’s not happening. At this point, I don’t have an alternative date. All I can say is that I’ll get it done and released as soon as I’m physically able. And yeah, that sounds sort of dire. It is…and it isn’t.

People who know me know that I’m basically pretty private. I don’t often air my views or things that deeply affect me or my family. I’m going “there” now because some of you are good friends, others are wondering because they like my books and want more. This feels really weird but here goes.

Here’s the deal. Most of y’all know that I’ve been having vision problems for a bit over a year now. I’m old. It happens. Looking at things through my left eye is like looking into a foggy mirror. Everything is blurry. I can’t distinguish letters or anything that doesn’t have a definitive shape. I’d been told back before the Covid shut-down that I was developing a cataract in that eye. And it didn’t really get bad until this past fall. Then my right eye starting having problems. I finally got in to see the doctor I consider to be one of the best in the world (he’s the one who’s taken care of Only’s eye since her car wreck back in college.) His office called last Monday and I suddenly had a Thursday morning appointment. I was there about four hours. I was examined and tested by various techs and a resident and then Dr. K. He knows me. He didn’t sugarcoat things. And that’s one of the many things I appreciate about him–that and his skill. I do have cataracts on both eyes but they aren’t the real problem.

I have advanced stage glaucoma. Basically, the optic nerves in my eyes are deteriorating. If it goes untreated, glaucoma causes blindness. Sadly, it can’t be cured, just slowed down and controlled. Usual early treatment involves medication to lower the pressure in the eye and if that doesn’t work, then surgery.. I’m past that first point. I go in early tomorrow morning for my first eye surgery. The doctor is doing the right eye to preserve the range of vision I currently have in it. Oh, and yeah, he’ll deal with the cataract too. That means that I won’t be able to see the computer or much of anything else until the bandages come off and we see how things are. I go into surgery the following Tuesday for the left eye. The vision I’ve lost can’t be restored but the doc things I’ll be able to see with more clarity because that cataract is thicker. Hopefully, the right eye will be fully functional before then but I can’t say for sure, hence the two-week downtime estimate.

On the upside, with treatment, I shouldn’t lose any more vision range. And there’s a possibility that I won’t have to wear glasses–except readers. Wow! I’ve worn bifocal glasses or contacts since the third grade. I could see close up but never far away. To reverse that? I say again–WOW! And, I’ll get to buy cool sunglasses–something I haven’t done since I had to stop wearing contacts way back when.

Anyway, if I don’t show up any time soon, don’t freak out or worry. One way or another, I’m gonna be fine. It’ll just take awhile to heal, especially with what is basically back-to-back surgeries. I do have Medicare so there’s that though there will be some fairly hefty out-of-pocket expenses. It is what is but that means once I can see again, I need to get my arse in gear and write faster, get more books out there to sell so I can replensish the coffers. Contrary to popular belief, most of us lower mid-list authors don’t rake in the big bucks. If you’d like to do something to cheer me on, say a little prayer. Or buy one of my books. If you have all of them, gift one to a friend that might enjoy them. At the end of this, I’m really hoping that I’ll be able to READ a book again. The whole magnifying glass thing (one reason writing and editing has taken me so long–thank goodness for touch-screen monitors that can be magnified!) to read a paperback or my Kindle is a literal pain. While I really enjoy audio books, I’ve missed READING.

So, all and all, it’s all good. Or it will be. I’ll try to touch base as I’m able And y’all send up prayers for Lawyer Guy too. He “gets” to take over my crazy feral cat lady duties, dog feeding duties, and dinner prep duties. He’s REALLY hoping I’m only “blurry-blind” for maybe 48 hours at most. Me too! But for different reasons. LOLOL We’re in good spirits around here. We caught it while it can be contained if not reversed.

Today, though, is a typical Monday. Wallyworld to lay in groceries, list and instruction writing, laundry was done yesterday so LG has clothes to wear. 😉 I leave you with this public service announcement, especially if you are over 60. Get your eyes checked–not for vision necessarily but for internal pressure and any change in vision/perception. Trust me on this. You want to catch this stuff early. I did’t. I’m ready for what’s coming. I’ll see y’all on the other side.