Dani Haviland's blog

If you can read this, be grateful for a multitude of blessings. First and foremost is you have the gift of sight. Even if you wear glasses, contacts, or had corrective surgery, you can distinguish dark and light on a very detailed level.

Second, give thanks for electronics. You could break that down to the device (smartphone or computer), information sharing system (wi-fi, cable, or telephone wire), and good ol’ electricity to power that digital screen that flashes the words in front of your eyes. Yup, more than one gift in that one.

Third, thank your teacher. Whether you attended public or private school or learned from a parent, sibling, or friend, be grateful they spent time encouraging you. You were – and are – worth it.

Right now, I want to share my experience with the first one: the gift of sight. When my grandmother saw me as a newborn, she said, “What big, beautiful eyes. She’s going to be nearsighted.” She was right. Lasik  – my first two surgeries – corrected it, though. I was very happy for years not having to buy glasses or contacts.

Surgeries three and four were for cataracts. Those surgeries were not nearly as successful. I guess the ophthalmologist didn’t calculate (guess) the right strength of the implanted lenses, I was back to glasses.

Vision degradation was ongoing and for no reason other than old age. I had a macular pucker that was tugging and distorting my retina, the ‘projector screen’ at the back of my eye. I needed a new prescription twice a year. Images seen with my right eye were ten to fifteen percent bigger than my left. That translated as double vision to my brain. Prismatic lenses helped but didn't cure the problem.

I had been seeing a retina specialist for five years, having check-ups on its progress or healing. Nope, it wasn’t fixing itself. The doctor decided it was time for surgery.

My fifth eye surgery was last week: vitrectomy and membranectomy. I’ll look like a pirate for at least a few more days. Here’s hoping my ‘double-vision’ will go away and I can write more soon!

Note: That's how much my hair has grown in one year from my traditional 'Pixie cut.' I'm responsible/to blame for the goofy bangs.

While you're waiting for my next book, start a series or two or three, depending on how busy you are. Short of time? Check out a second chance romance single. Both ONE ARCTIC SUMMER (based in Barrow, Alaska) and A PLATE OF CHRISTMAS COOKIES (a quicker read, based in southeastern Arizona) are feel-good romances.

Read on and remember to count your blessings every day.   Dani