I’ve been starting a lot of threads recently. This is because I’ve been in the grips of abject terror and the anticipation of hopelessness. Well, half of what I’ve feared has come to pass, and that, oddly, has cured the hopelessness.
I have bad vision problems and a heart condition. On Friday I will undergo a procedure which I won’t embrarrass myself by trying to spell; with any luck that will be successful. I’m told the odds for that are good. What is not good is the news I got today regarding my eyes. They’ll never get any better than they are now—and right now, to read what I’m typing, I have to turn the screen magnification up to about 250. The eye surgeon (latest in a long line of specialists) said my left eye cannot be salvaged, that there is no blood going to that retina. She may be able to do something for the right, but even for that there is little hope. Odds are I’ll shortly be like Milton, except that I of course look better in a three-piece suit.
And that means I’m done with the Dope.
Don’t misunderstand me. This is not a suicide note. Fifteen years it would have been, but fifteen years ago I wa a grieving childless misanthrope was nothing to live for but fucking needy women in bars. Now I have a wife whose better than I deserve and the most beautiful children in the world. I want to spend as much time with them, so I’ll go through as many unspellable cardiac shit as I can. The odds are supposedly good, and as I said I am not in despair right now.
But no matter how Friday turns out, my eyes will soon be watching nothing but God. I’m going to expend the remainder of my vision on my family, not the Dope. Not that you folks aren’t pretty.
So this is my goodbye. I’ll name some names. TriPolar, WhyNot, Elendil’s Heir, Anaamika, jayrey, Oakminster, Shodan, iiandyiiii, Bricker—y’all are always a pleasure to interact with. Those are judt the names that come to mind without reading any old threads. There are many moreI could and should list if expending my vision on searches made any sense.
I feel like I shoud say something about pie, but my wit seems to be forsaking me. Ah well.
All the best Skald. The boards will be missing a certain something without your presence, to our detriment. I hope all goes well for you, and if you do miss us perhaps a technological solution will offer another method to enable your return.
I have always enjoyed your hypothetical threads for making me think of the perspective of other people. I will miss them, and you. Take care of yourself and be well.
I don’t know what to say. I’m impressed that it seems you’ve made peace with what life is throwing your way, but I’m sad that you even have to be in this position.
