MidiMike

Learning life’s lessons is critical at any age. I have posted (probably too often) about getting older and noticing the unexpected effects it has. But even at my age I find myself slapped with something that should have been obvious. I have a cute story about vision, on multiple levels.

Because of existing eye problems and general aging, my night vision has been getting worse. I can see well enough if there are a lot of ‘city’ lights. But on dark, winding roads, if another car approaches with their headlights on, I am temporarily blinded. I can’t see beyond their headlights until they pass.

I drive an 18 year old car. I found myself driving less and less at night. Going fewer places and not as far away from home. Over the last 4-5 years I have felt less comfortable driving myself, let alone passengers. So I restricted helping friends and family run errands.

I looked at my headlights when I was driving locally at night recently and figured something is not right. The headlights look like they are pointing down! Indeed they were. I hoped a simple alignment might solve the issue. As I checked them to find the alignment screws, the bulbs just popped around inside the housing. They weren’t even mounted in the socket! Trying to make this a short story, I replaced both lights a few years ago. I have replaced them on all my cars, vans, Jeeps, whatever.

So I thought – ‘if I was so stupid that I couldn’t replace them right the first time, I should have a professional do it for me’. I must be getting too old for this lol. I can upgrade the bulbs to a brighter set to help my night vision anyway. Evidently, car part stores don’t help you install parts at a lot of places now. I bought new headlights and went home to make an appt to have a car repair center replace them for me. Being curious as I am, I was not sure how the headlights were installed so poorly. I took a look and tried to get the headlights out and maybe, if lucky, replace them myself.

I wasn’t lucky, but I have been stubborn all my life. So after 30 minutes in the sun I got the socket out and removed the bulb. I replaced the bulb and then it took another 5 minutes to get the locking clip to pop into the correct place. The other side was worse as the spring clip was actually bent under the bulb socket. It took a few tools and an additional 10 minutes to remove the socket and old bulb. Again I wondered how I could have done that, even a few years ago? Getting old is no fun.

I turned on the lights. Both worked fine. Both were properly aligned! I drove at night and I could see the road markers and reflections off the street signs for the first time in years! A nice improvement, but not a solution to my self-imposed driving restrictions.

A week later I traded in that car. I bought a 2023 model. The first time I drove at night I was totally amazed! I can see the roads fine, and even in the unlit rural streets I could handle opposing traffic. It wasn’t so much that I was getting old, it was my ancient car and headlight technology! Yes, I still have difficulty and need to be very careful, but I can drive at night again!

Which got me thinking about getting older and ‘the stupid’ that eventually comes along with it. I couldn’t remember changing the lights or why the clips weren’t locked into place properly. A few days later I remembered why; I didn’t replace them! I just had bi-lateral carpal tunnel surgery and took my car to a parts store to replace the headlights. At the time they DID put them in for customers. So they didn’t check to see if the clips were locked into place. That also explains why I was missing one of the protective ‘boots’ on the driver side. I try not to loose parts, but it happens.

Now, at the end of my vision story. I assumed the aging was the cause of my night vision getting worse and worse. There was nothing I can do about that. Just getting older.

I assumed I was getting too stupid to do simple repairs like replace light bulbs in my car. Just getting older. It won’t get better from here.

Not only was I legitimately having difficulties seeing well enough to drive at night, I failed to even look for other causes and solutions within my control. I thought age was making me stupid. It absolutely IS, but maybe it is making me lazy as well. I just accepted it. Faced my fate. Adjusted my lifestyle.

Accepting fate is not all it is cracked up to be. Submitting to reality is generally healthy, we just need to keep questioning what reality is. Keep looking for ways to improve and maintain. Even at my age, but especially at yours.

MIDIMike