The life of a twenty-something finding a way to focus her awesomeness in an effort to change the world, one town at a time.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Grown-Up Goodness

It’s always funny how your things change as you get a bit older. There are the shifts from Barbie to Babysitter’s Club; from popular to indie and my current one, from young adult to actual adult.
An actual adult, in my mind, is self-sustaining. My rent, my car, my apartment, my insurance (my stuff is worth insuring?), my job, my decisions and my time are all my own. I control all of them and am completely responsible if one/all gets screwed up. Thinking about this when I was still in the protective cocoon of parent-subsidized living during university, I remember being slightly freaked out at having that much responsibility for my own life. What do you mean I have to pay ALL of my bills EVERY month? I’ll never make enough money for that! I have to cook ALL of my food? I have to use a Laundromat to do my laundry? I thought that came built in with any living arrangement.

However, it turns out that it’s great! Those questions that seemed scary five years ago are a non-issue. In fact, I kind of like the Laundromat. I have a nice TV, I like all the stuff that surrounds me and I get to make my own decisions.

Which brings me to the inspiration for this post: I am about to make the single largest purchase in my life so far and I made the decision without needing to consult with anyone on it. I talked to a couple of people about it, sure, but I didn’t need anyone to talk me into or out of it. On Nov. 1, Stephanie Betts will be able to see without glasses for the first time since grade one. Not being a candidate for lasik, I will be getting Implantable Contact Lenses (ICL) put into my eyes, below my cornea, and right on top of my own lens. I’ll be able to see!!! My brain has yet to fully comprehend what it will be like to not have to keep track of contacts, glasses and keeping prescriptions filled. Awesome will probably be what it is like.

It’s a biiiig expense; it’s my responsibility and I’m really excited about my decision. Being a grown up rulez! I’m going to be able to see!

PS. Everybody should check out the article Ed wrote about my friend Andy. This journalist is so in love with Andy and Aaron that I think he wants to have their babies. That’s how cool Andy is.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have never heard of ICL, I will have to Google that for some information. How come you were not a candidate for lasik?

I have a tough time getting proper contacts with my unusual variety of astigmatism and am not sure lasik is an option so perhaps ICL would be?

And, yeah, being an adult is pretty rad. I could do without the grocery shopping but it's a minor annoyance to eat what you want.

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure about the info you'll find on google, but wikipedia was not the bastion of information it usually tends to be.

Gimbel eye center was the best, I found and if you schedule a consultation with them, they give you a dvd to watch before hand that explains all the different types of surgeries and who they're appropriate for. I wasn't a candidate for lasik because my prescription is too high and my cornea wouldn't be thick enough to support such a change.

They do make ICL's for astigmatism, I know that, but they are a bit more expensive. Take a look you could join the world of sight as well!

Unknown said...

awesome betts! i know how long you've been wanting to get this done.

the article on andy was amazing! i saw it a few days ago. kryptonite schackles!

Anonymous said...

I heard of the ICL before, thats awesome! what a treasure it would be so see an alarm clock, or face of a loved one with preparing first. One less thing to pack for travelling, one less thing to worry about! I'm jealous.