Yesterday, I took Annual Leave to check eyes with specialist. Had been going there for every year consistently since 2002 except I skipped last year. I’m already past 25 but my eyesight power still decreases.
I woke up 5 minutes earlier than usual and the 3 of us – mom, bro & I went to see the eye specialist near Chow Kit (or is it in Chow Kit?). We reached there barely 8am & we were the first! It was a first because everytime we reached there previously, there were always a lot of people sitting, waiting.
The first thing mom did was to sit down and breathe. I asked her, “Don’t we have to give our card?”
She just stared at me blankly.
“Let me breathe first..” she muttered later.
I grabbed the cards from her and passed to the Indian lady sitting at the desk. Probably the receptionist.
Mom said, “Have to get the ticket.”
“Ha?”
“Press the ticket.”
I saw the machine churning out numbers with the light yellow cellophane tape crossing it over like a fallen beauty pagent. Does that thing work? I thought.
I pressed the only button on the machine & the receptionist told me, “Press 3 times.” 1 for us, each.
“The doctor is coming in at 9.30am,” the receiptionist told us, as if she couldn’t believe anyone (us) could come so early but why was she so early then?
I swirled back to mom. “9.30?! What are we doing here so early?!” We still had 1hr 30min to wait!
Mom got her fire up (awake) now. “You want to sleep later, you come here yourself!”
“OK. I’m going out and walk around.”
Bro & mom shut their eyes and leaned back against the wall.
Chow Kit in the early morning is quiet with stalls unsheltered, several homeless people sleeping on the floor and cleaners sweep the rubbish away. 1 of the most important people on earth is the cleaner and the other most important thing is the rubbish bin. Without them, the earth would definately be dirtier when some of us simply throw rubbish around without a care of the environment and our hygiene.
I didn’t see any prostitute (mention Chow Kit & it was known as the prostitute & drug addict street a few years back) but there were certainly a lot of dark staircase leading to even darker lots above. Wouldn’t be too hard to imagine drug addicts there but a handful of the people I saw were just opening their stalls/booths while most were resting on the chairs to preserve energy for puasa. I’d like to think that Chow Kit road is now cleaner with its people doing healthy activities instead of wasting away.
After awhile, I went back into the specialist. Mom & bro were sitting at the back. There were 5 more people – a father & son, an old lady & 2 more ladies.
We checked our eyes with our specs briefly, then waited for our turn to be checked by the doctor. The doctor was already in at 9.30am but we were only called in at 10am. Again, we checked our eyes with the alphabet box but without the specs. Shit. I had increased 100 – 200 in both eyes from 2 years back! Wasn’t surprisingly but nevertheless, I was disappointed & resigned to the fact that I couldn’t do Lasik for now. OK, I have to give business to England again. Must get a new spec & contact lenses. Maybe throw in a sunglass too :)
To check the eyes further, the nurse/staff put several drops of medicine to make our pupils dilated. Look left, right, up, down, upper right, lower right, upper left, lower left, right, left, all over again. We were fine.
“Luckily your sister (me) doesn’t have any tear,” doctor told my bro, who had tear before. He can’t play contact sports like rugby, martial arts.
“But my power is still increasing!” I exclaimed.
“You are still growing!”
We laughed.
Doctor asked us, “Do you need Medical?”
I was leaving but I turned back as he asked this. “You can give MC?”
“Yes.”
“I need one,” I said firmly. If I can claim MC, then I’ll have another AL :D
“You need it?” Doctor asked me in disbelief.
“Yes, I’m working!” I might not look believeable as a professional then, I had the backpack on my back and I was wear casual t-shirt & jeans but I had been working for years! :p
Almost every year, the short sighted power increased 100 :(
If we are talking about new age, we’ll probably say I am not accepting reality. But what reality I’m not accepting? I am grateful for what I have. Sure, I wish for more. Like clear, smooth skin, more than enough abundance, infinite abundance :) Bro kept saying I’m not accepting that car prices will not go down, it’s time for me to get a car (so that he can use my car!) and I shouldn’t be spending so much money on entertainment, holiday, food, cosmetics & skincare. What?! I hadn’t been to overseas for 2 years! The last trip was to Sepang for Nat’s birthday, which is near Port Dickson… right next to KL! The trip to grandmother’s grave somewhere in Negeri Sembilan doesn’t count, though I had the light hearted and kind company of cousins.
I still have my eyes, they are still serving me well. I can still wear specs or contact lenses to see clearer. What about those who are blind? Help them out to ease their lives > Malaysian Association of the Blind.
Once outside, darn! *squint* With the pupils dilated, brightness was a pain. It was hard to walk, even harder to read the road signs & bus numbers/routes.
I needed to go to Nose Warehouse Sale!
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