Was this a bad idea? The optical-wear breakthrough taking the nation overtook me in Davenport. I gave the plastic inserts a try when a bargain price drew me in. But
Was this a bad idea?
The optical-wear breakthrough taking the nation overtook me in Davenport. I gave the plastic inserts a try when a bargain price drew me in. But blinking ensued and wouldn’t let up.
“Contact lenses might not be for me”. My dad’s pipefitting skills meant he and mom would have several months in Davenport. “Welcome traveler,” they had chimed in on my arrival from Montana. After the eventful visit to Ann I had routed my return trip home through Iowa.
Three things occurred in my few days’ stop-over.
I tried finding work, “Sorry, I’m afraid the Times-Democrat doesn’t have an opening for typesetters right now.” Secondly, I tossed my conventional eyeglasses. Since age 12 I had worn them. Bad idea, this change. Fashioned of harsh, inflexible material, the lenses pestered me from the start. My staccato blinking annoyed me. I would give up on contacts entirely within a year. And finally, I made a phone call – back to Billings— to a clergyman. Not just any clergyman. It embarrassed me that, in my haste to ask Ann to marry me, I had leapfrogged protocol. . . “Hello, Brother Barnes . . . Mm, I would like to ask . . . ”
Her father was kind, approving my marriage proposal and his daughter’s yes. . . now that he knew of it. Thanking him, I brought the visit to a close, returned the phone to its hook, and exhaled, long and slow.
“Your cooking’s as good as ever, Mom.” Suitcase in hand, I hugged her, touched the doorknob of their rented mobile home. “I’d better get back to Oklahoma.
“A guy who’s getting married had best get a job.”
©2019 Jerry Lout
PECAN FESTIVAL Book Signings. Native-son, Living With A Limp author Jerry Lout, is in town Friday and Saturday at The LOKAL Okmulgee coffee venue with his page-turning memoirs. Living With A Limp and Giants In The Rough. Polio, pythons, and providence feature among the many themes. Copies of both works are on hand for purchase and signings. Set for 2:00-4:00 p.m. FRIDAY, and 11:00 – 1:30 p.m. SATURDAY. They’re also found on Amazon.com . Visit his blog at www.jerrylout.com. Enquiries, comments welcome at jerrylout@gmail.com.