The Burden of Age

昨晚James在電話中埋怨說由於右眼白內障緣故，這次重新延續駕駛執照時視力測試沒有通過，因此，駕駛執照沒有能被延續。我告訴他可以做白內障摘除手術，恢複視力，並且用我奶奶的例子鼓勵他。

奶奶由於高齡白內障幾乎造成雙目失明。然而，在奶奶94歲那年，爸爸的同事親自為奶奶做了白內障摘除術，雙眼視力都被恢複。一直到奶奶接近102歲（差3個月）高齡去世時，她的視力都是良好。而那白內障摘除術離現在已經18年了，這18年的醫學發展和進步使得白內障摘除術越來越成熟和成功。

聽了我的勸說，James答應這個星期與他的眼科醫生預約討論相關事情宜。這也使我想到今年將90歲的公公左眼白內障問題。公公酷愛閱讀、書法、寫詩作詞。左眼視力在這1、2年來的逐漸退化影響著他的業餘愛好和生活質量。去年回國探親時，我就勸公公做白內障摘除術，也用我奶奶的例子鼓勵他。當時，公公答應今年春天去做。這個周末與婆家親人們通電話時得知，公公對是否做白內障摘除術還是猶豫不決。一方麵，他希望改善左眼視力，保持原有的業餘愛好；另一方麵，他對手術有些擔心害怕。我當然是尊重老人家自己的選擇，不強迫他接受手術。也許，今年我和先生回國探親時陪親自公公去醫院做手術，如果老人家願意。

願 Ecclesiastes 中的這段成為我的警醒：“Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, ‘Life is not pleasant anymore.’ Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky. Remember him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop. Remember him before your teeth—your few remaining servants—stop grinding; and before your eyes—the women looking through the windows—see dimly.” （ Ecclesiastes 12:1-3）。




音樂《The Wonder of Life》


《 The Burden of Age 》

(by: Edith Matilda Thomas )

There is a dancing in the morning beams,
There is a rainbow sown amid the dew,
There is a glint of gold shot through the sands,
A molten sapphire in the mountains' hue,
And Hope down comes with all her singing bands.
Nay, nay, it is not so; 'twas long ago!
There was a dancing in the morning beams:
Ah, how the years exile us into dreams!

There is a glamour in the moon's white gleams,
There is the touch that charmed Endymion's eyes,
A spirit mounting from the clod and stone,
A spirit bending from the bending skies--
And Love in midst of all sets up his throne!
Nay, nay, it is not so; 'twas long ago!
There was a glamour in the moon's white gleams:
Ah, how the years exile us into dreams!

There is a wonder-light on woodland streams,
A murmur in the green o'erhanging boughs,
A rustle in the fronded ranks of fern--
And, lo! the Muse with rapt enwreathèd brows,
And eyes that seen and unseen things discern!
Nay, nay, it is not so; 'twas long ago!
There was a wonder-light on woodland streams:
Ah, how the years exile us into dreams!

Some other world, perchance, our loss redeems--
Light to dead eyes and speech to lips all dumb
Brings back--brings us and ours from banishment!
So may our dreams a living joy become;
But here all things that are, without doubt are blent,
Within the mists that blow from long ago!
Some other world, not this, our loss redeems:
Ah, how the years exile us into dreams!


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