I have an eye infection. I’m taking antibiotics now, so it has improved a little since I took this picture of my grotesquely swollen eye. It hurts as much as it looks as though it would, but I won’t regale you with the revolting details.
No, the point is that I have been avoiding people. I went and taught my class, of course, but otherwise I have stayed in my home with my hot compresses and whininess. I have a meeting today, and I’m thinking I need a piratical eye patch. I’m being introduced to the congregation as a new member in church on Sunday. I have another meeting on Monday.
It makes me wonder, though. If this turned out to be permanent, would I think I shouldn’t go outside? If I look like this when I’m 90, will I stay in my house and refuse to meet people? Should I, now that my everyday appearance is something that would have horrified me when I was 25, become a hermit?
Is there a rule that says that we have to meet some standard of visual appeal in order to take part in human society?
I don’t think I have this in my mind when I meet people. I have never thought, “That person is so unattractive; he should stay home.” And while my eye is monstrous looking, the whole pain and blurred vision part is a much more important part of the experience.
I don’t usually think of myself as vain. And even now, it’s not so much that I don’t want people to see me like this as that I don’t want people to have to look at something so distressing. Piratical eye patch, maybe.
Oh no! I hope the antibiotics work quickly and you’re feeling better soon. I had a pre-cancerous blob frozen off my nose on Wednesday and have been a tad self-conscious this week. Especially if I admit the spot is kind of oozing. Gross, huh?
@fp_blahblahblog – Yeah! Basically, any kind of leaking, oozing, swelling makes a girl feel unsightly, right? Maybe even unseemly.
Glad you got the trouble taken care of before it became more than a cosmetic issue.
Weirdly enough, something very similar happened to me about four weeks ago. It wasn’t an infection, but a reaction to something, and my face around my eye got incredibly swollen and pink. I was wishing I had an eyepatch too, and pulling my hat down low on that side.
@Lydia – I don’t look quite as monstrous; I think the antibiotics are helping. Church today and a big meeting tomorrow, so I’m hoping hot compresses will help. I hadn’t thought of the hat!