Hello, it’s me again.
I’m telling you my clients have been so busy during the month of August, I can hardly keep up to update you.
Here we are with yet another Sublime selection for the Sips of Wine from the Grapevine.
You may be asking, what or who now?
Well, here’s Edward Cohen founder of EZ2SeeProducts with more…
By Edward Cohen of
EZ2See® Products LLC
Hello,
First the Personal Stuff (for which there seems to be a lot)
Is it Me or is it This Month?
I wondered why I seem to be so busy this month. Then it dawned on me that I am dealing with, finishing content details on the Address book, updating the website, reaching out to new potential customers, organizing my appeal for folks to donate to a group I mention below, organizing many aspects of the big, non-vision related September event in my city, preparing and sending out promotional announcements for our next low-vision Support Group meeting and planning to facilitate it, writing, rewriting and rewriting this newsletter and of course all the work that comes with home ownership. Now the sense of busyness all makes sense.
Flowers, Weeds and Mulch, Oh My
Last year we hired a company to create a long curvy planting bed in front of the house.
It would look nice and eliminate some grass to cut. We chose native plants with bright foliage and flowers that I might be able to see. The plants will eventually spread and fill in to keep out weeds. Those plants were also chosen because they are favored by bees and butterflies.
The thin layer of mulch put down last year was pretty much gone. A good indicator was that grass and weeds were happily invading this nice new area. It was up to us to take care of the area until those plants filled in.
This month we got the time, the mulch and the motivation to begin. As my wife and I set about pulling weeds, it quickly became apparent to us that I was largely unable to tell by touch the difference between what to pull or not to pull. I had to agree and accepted that I could not help do this task.
Years ago, I was an okay gardener who routinely did such work. But now I had to admit that ship had sailed. We who live with one sort of challenge or another must be emotionally able to gracefully accept when the reality of not being able to perform some task smacks us in the face.
Even though I know and preach such high-minded statements, I still felt dejected at my inabilities at that moment.
As my wife efficiently moved along across from me, she casually mentioned, “What about spreading mulch behind me as I clear ahead of you”? It was a perfectly logical idea that snapped me out of my gloomy mood. I immediately stood up to get started. Well actually, immediately standing up isn’t quite what happened. I slowly rose and unfolded from the crouching position I had been in for too long. Once fully vertical, it was off to the back yard and filling our rolling cart with its first load of mulch.
Hauling and hand spreading the many loads of chipped oak totally reversed my mood. I was back being helpful and productive. From experience, I knew that with my gloved hand in a claw-like position, the right depth of mulch fit beneath my palm.
Once we were sufficiently tired, sore and sweaty, we called it an afternoon. While only about one-third was done, my wife looked at our work and said we had done well. We finished up over the next several days. It felt good to check that off the list, at least for this year.
The moral of this story is this. Even if you can’t do all you used to, there is still much you can do. You just have to figure out what it is and do it. It helps if your wife just tells you what that is. Grin.
Engaging with Others Who Have no Vision Issue
The following was one topic that came up in two different low-vision group settings this month. The question was, “How do we respond when dealing with a person who is confused by our vision?” They are unable to comprehend how, for example, we use a white cane but can sometimes maneuver around certain obstacles. In the mind of such folks, you are either able to see or you see nothing. Have you ever run into anyone like that? Here is the approach I offered in both settings.
I’ll first ask them if they know of someone who is hard of hearing? A question to which they always say yes. Then I point out and they agree to the fact that the hard-of-hearing person can still hear somewhat, but it might depend if the room is noisy or not. After they admit to knowing that, I go in for the kill.
With a smile on my face, I state, “Well, I am hard of seeing. We call that low vision”. Whether they get it or not, they generally say that they get it. Most in both of those groups liked the approach and said they’d try to remember to use it when needed. You’re welcome to as well.
One More Thing About the Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB)
Many of you may know about this 50+ year old organization and what they do. For those who don’t, they raise money to fund research to find treatments and cures for blinding inherited retinal diseases which affect millions, including me.
This month they are holding a fundraiser called VisionWalk in many cities. The one near me is in Minneapolis on September 24th. I’ll get right to the point. I’m contributing and invite you to do the same. At the end of this month’s news, you’ll learn how. There, enough said.
My Recent Eye Surgery
On August 16th, I had my one-month follow-up appointment. After high-tech eye pictures were taken, we eventually were ushered into the exam room.
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Immediately upon entering the room, the doctor who did the surgery expressed how happy he was with the healing process. He explained that the reason I still couldn’t focus as well as I could many months before the lens fell in that eye, was due to the inflammation around the remaining sutures. Once they were removed, the swelling would soon end and better focusing would return.
Knowing what was coming next, I began to get a bit nervous. It was the removal of those sutures. Imagine having one removed from the surface of your eye. Now imagine removing 5. Is that worse; I don’t know? So many were used because the old lens he removed was large, requiring a wider than usual incision.
The procedure began with a single drop of numbing agent. I’m thinking, “Is that enough?”. After a moment and the rustle of plastic bags being opened, his only words of instruction were to lean forward and keep my forehead firmly pressed against the machine they use to look deeply into your eyes. I started to take long slow breaths and hoped for it to be over quickly.
Silently he went to work. I sensed him moving in and out. At one point he said, “Three down, two to go.” Except for twice feeling the slightest contact, I truly felt nothing else. Then he was done. He said that in a week or two my acuity should improve. As I write this almost two weeks later, he was right and I’m very grateful.
And Now for the Business News
Update on the 2023 Calendars and Website
They are now officially for sale on my website and on Amazon. Most of the web site updating is done. However, I got an email from a loyal customer struggling with placing and order. After some back-and-forth discussions, we tracked down the cause.
Then after more back-and-forth with my webmaster, we have a more intuitive website. There is only so much that can be done to the shopping cart. At least people now will know why they are leaving the EZ2See® site when they click Add to Cart. Always get in touch when you have a problem with the site.
Update on The EZ2See® Address and Organizer Book Project
The feedback and recommendations from the Focus Group have all been reviewed. Many of them have been incorporated into the second version. I wrote all the Testers to express my appreciation and described the changes they inspired.
Still awaiting paper stock samples from the printer. but at least everything else seems done. Yes, I know, as soon as I say that, something unexpected will pop up. It is just the nature of such projects. But I feel like we are rounding the 3rd turn and the finish line is not far away.
And that’s it for August. Thanks as always for your support and interest,
Edward
Now back to This FFB Fundraiser Thing
You can click this link to read my heart-warming story about why I’ve formed a fundraising team and you should join me. Then when overwhelmed with the need to donate, such a link will be found there.
Or if able, ready and motivated, click this link to skip reading why your donation is needed and go straight to my team’s donation page. No pressure, you wonderful kind-hearted person. You decide.
Check out the elderly fall, slip and skin protection products
made by Prevent Products Inc who license and sell my products.
Edward is a low vision senior living in southeast Minnesota. He is the founder and owner of EZ2See® Products LLC. Visit his website if you or someone you care about is looking for innovative organizing products for those living with vision loss or other challenges.
To receive this monthly news or to connect with Edward, email info@EZ2SeeProducts.com
Find the EZ2See® weekly planner/calendar and high-contrast sticky note pads at:
Or simply call, 800-234-8291.