Pam Harris, "blind" writer

Do you know these facts about Elvis?

January 8, 2026 by Pam Harris, "blind" writer

I don’t know why I was such an Elvis fan. I still love his music, but I do not view him through some sort of rose-colored glasses that fans of celebrities often wear. I loved his cheesy movies when I was growing up thanks to my brother and his girlfriend who took me to see them. In several of those movies, Elvis sang to kids and talked to them, and I just thought it would be so cool to be his friend. Nine-year-olds can think weird thingsl

For the non-Elvis fan world, you may not know what a paradox he was. I view him as two distinct individuals. The first half of his life, he was innocent, hopeful, attached to his mother (probably too attached–no, definitely too attached), acne-prone (yes!),a dreamer, and poor. The second half of his life was a wild ride that propelled him to the top, and the world around him, his grief over the loss of his mother, and other factors sent him on a downward spiral that ended in the way we all know.

Today, January 8, would have been his 91st birthday. The movie starring Austin Butler that was released a couple of years ago created a new generation of Elvis fans, although I think many are not Elvis fans. They are AustinButlerPlayingElvis fans, but I could be wrong.

In celebration of his birthday, I thought I’d share these facts about the King of Rock and Roll who was and is so much more to many all over the world.

Elvis Aaron (Aron) Presley was born on Jan. 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi. His twin brother Jesse Garon was still-born and buried in an unmarked grave. No one knows where it is. A memorial “fake” grave is at Graceland.
He and his parents, Vernon and Gladys, moved to Memphis in 1948. They lived in housing projects near Humes High School where he attended school until he graduated. He was an average student, and report cards show a mix of B’s and C’s.
“That’s All Right, Mama” recorded with Scotty Moore (originally from Humboldt, Tennessee) and Bill Black was an instant hit in Memphis and became a regional hit. Sam Phillips of Sun Studio in Memphis recorded and promoted the group. It was released in 1954. At the time, Elvis was working as a truck driver for Crown Electric.
Elvis’s favorite music was gospel. He and his girlfriend Dixie Locke attended all the gospel quartet performances in Memphis, and his dream was to be a member of a gospel quartet. In the late 1960s and 1970s when he was performing in Las Vegas and touring the country, he and his back-up singers would go to his hotel room and sing gospel music all night long. His idea and insistence, not theirs. “How Great Thou Art” became a standard in his concerts.
His drug problems began when he was stationed in Germany while serving in the Army. When he had night watch, he took pills to help him stay awake and then had to take pills to help him sleep. He thought because they were prescribed by doctors it was fine to take them, but as we all know, it escalated into drug addiction and abuse. In his mind, he never thought he was doing anything wrong, and although family and friends tried their best to get him to stop, their efforts were ineffective.
His mother died August 14, 1958 while he was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, for basic training. She was only 46. She was a worrier and worried about Elvis his entire life. It was not widely known, but she developed a drinking problem and died due to a heart attack, but some sources indicate she had cirrhosis of the liver. Elvis did not drink alcohol. Maybe that’s why.
Elvis grew to hate the movies Col. Parker had contracted for him to make. Barbra Streisand approached him to be her co-star in “A Star Is Born,” which Elvis really wanted to do because he wanted to be a serious actor, but Col. Parker refused because he wanted Elvis to have top billing instead of Streisand.
Elvis was into karate and racquetball in the 1970s.
Elvis played the guitar and piano by ear.
Graceland has a copy of the Bible Elvis read, and it is full of notes that he wrote in the margins. He read it voraciously and read books about spirituality.

Maybe you already knew all of this, but I thought I’d share in case you don’t. I could write much more, but I don’t have time to address many Elvis issues about his relationship with Priscilla (we think of pedophiles in this day and age and it creeps us out although their relationship was not physical supposedly until she was older), his infidelity which violated the Christian principles he found in the Bible, and his temper. He had a bad one according to those closest to him.

His generosity was legendary, his loyalty to his fans at a level high above any other celebrity’s, and his allegiance to his family were other aspects of a very human and flawed man. I often say a psychiatrist could spend years analyzing him. My thoughts? Not famous to famous too quickly. Poverty to riches too fast. Immaturity that lingered too long. A little boy trapped in a man’s body. A charismatic entertainer whose main joy in life, other than his daughter, was performing and being adored by fans.

Ronnie McDowell, a country music and talented artist who has painted for Disney and other people/organizations, painted the artwork you see in the photo. This is his interpretation of a twelve-year-old Elvis getting his first guitar at a hardware store in Tupelo, a purchase that changed the course of history, not only for him, but for the world.

You have to wonder what his life would have been like and what our music today would be like if that purchase never had been made.

One final thing. Somehow peanut butter and banana sandwiches have become known as Elvis’s favorite sandwich, which may or may not be true. Believe me, there are plenty of Southerners who eat them. Elvis’s favorite meal was meat loaf with potatoes and other veggies like fried okra and corn.

Do you wish you were young again?

January 5, 2026January 5, 2026 by Pam Harris, "blind" writer

A fellow pickle ball player asked my husband that question, and the two agreed they wouldn’t want to go back in time and repeat their lives.

My reaction when he told me that? Of course, I would!

Don’t get me wrong. I wouldn’t want to go back in time and live through the bad times. I would want to be like what we’ve always heard: “If I’d known then what I know now…” And to be honest, I don’t want to go back to that 17-year-old in the picture. I was immature and still growing and learning about myself and about life, so that wouldn’t be ideal.

I realize that time gives us a false perspective of the past, and we tend to maximize the good memories and minimize the bad ones. I also realize many were not blessed with good parents, good health, and good friendships like I was. Those things affect memories, and our individual personalities affect them as well. For instance, I was “bullied,” if you want to call it that, in junior high. The name calling was almost an everyday thing. “Twiggy, Toothpick, Zipper” were just a few. I was really, really skinny. “Four-eyes, Coke Bottles” were two others. I was really, really nearsighted. Needless to say, I am forever grateful for the contact lenses I started wearing when I was 15.

But guess what? There were others going through their own traumas at that time. Welcome to junior high. That age group is very ego-centric and very cruel. It’s part of the growing up process.

So, no, I wouldn’t want to return to those years. Nor would I want to return to my twenties and even early thirties.

But late thirties and early forties? Absolutely! I still look back on those years as the happiest years of my adult life. It was before my sons were teen-agers (they really do start changing around age 15). My life was busy in a good way, full of activities with the boys, our friends, our church, and work. Saturdays were the most special day of the week, and Friday nights were the best night.

It was a time before hair started graying and skin began to thin. It was a time of spending as much time as I wanted in the sunshine (which I loved) without realizing how that sun was damaging my skin and making this time of life more traumatic. It was a time when the world viewed me as a person to be recognized and appreciated instead of being treated as someone “less than” or even invisible.

Have I mentioned the number of times forty-somethings have called me “sweetie” in recent years????

We don’t get together with friends as much as we used to do. We’ve lost one of our very dear friends, and the others are involved with grandchildren and dealing with their own issues. There are far too many in our age group passing away, dealing with cancer and other health issues, and suffering because of loss of spouse or a child.

I believe strongly in making the most of your life, no matter what curve balls are thrown your way. I am a person of faith and rely on that faith for not only today but also the future. I know some reading this are in my age group but actually living their best life because of the traumas suffered in their younger years such as bad marriages involving abuse, divorce due to infidelity and/or abuse, early widowhood, loss of a young child, and more traumas than I can list. For them, this season of life represents a time of peace. Maybe not joy, but peace. One of my friends who lost a granddaughter many years ago once told me that you never get over grief, you just learn to live with it.

I guess my answer to the question reflects the very fortunate life I have had to this point. So forgive me if I seem insensitive to you when I talk about my best years.

I know I can’t go back in time, and I guess I don’t really wish I could relive those days. Yet I cannot truthfully say I don’t reflect on those times with a certain amount of wistfulness. I wish I had appreciated those years more when I was going through them, but if I live another twenty years, I’ll be wishing I had appreciated the experiences and health I am enjoying now.

It’s all relative, isn’t it?

If there is any point to this blog, I guess it’s to advise younger folks to appreciate the season of life they are living (as if they’ll take my advice) and to remind myself to be grateful for every blessing I have right now since dwelling on the past and worrying about the future robs you of joy in the present.

But if anyone has an injectable collagen that makes skin firmer and plumper permanently, a permanent hair color that never has to be re-touched, a moisturizer that erases all sun damage, and a permanent lip color that also makes lips fuller, please share that information. All women over 65 will appreciate it.

Oh, a side note here. Another embarrassing blind moment last night! I wore one of my favorite sweaters to evening services at our church. Natalie leaned forward and spoke as she adjusted the turtleneck. “Mrs. Pam,” she said, “you’ve got your sweater on inside out, but I hid the tag.”

If I could do laughing until you cry emojis with this blog, I’d have a whole line of them here. That’s the second time I’ve worn something wrong side out. But at least I didn’t try to get in the car with a stranger like I did that time at a rest area. Sheesh!

Back to my original topic. Don’t think I”m unhappy or dwelling on the past. I am enjoying this season of life in different ways than I was able to enjoy those earlier years. It’s nice to have less responsibility and more time to do things I enjoy. And it’s wonderful being a grandparent (want to see my photo gallery?) to two and step-grandparent to three bonus grandchildren.

But every now and then, I reflect on those days of pre-teenage years raising of my children, of the activities with friends, and the delicious feeling of lazy Saturday mornings.

They make me smile. I hope you have something to smile about, whether it’s the current life you’re living or some great memories of the past. Hopefully you have both.

Well, I guess it’s time to stop writing. I have to get ready for a Silver Sneakers class. LT really puts us through it–she really loves for us to do squats!

Be sure to stop by for my blog later this week. It will have a recipe as well as information about a very-well known person. Enjoy your day!

Retirement: Living the “Boring but Blessed” Life

January 1, 2026 by Pam Harris, "blind" writer

Meet my much-loved, wonderful family. I am so blessed to have each one of them, so I want to make it clear at the beginning of this blog that I am very, very grateful for all the good things in my life.

After all, in addition to my wonderful family, I live in a comfortable home, am financially comfortable with all my needs and many of my wants met, and am in excellent health. I do not take and have never taken any meds like blood pressure medicine and other medicines common to “older” adults. My blood work at my annual physical is perfect each year. I have limitless energy (well, until around 9:00 P.M.), and it is nothing for me to log a five-to-seven mile walk on any given day.

But one factor about my basic personality is magnified in my current situation of vision loss and being unable to drive.

I’m bored. A lot.

I’ve always been the type of person who needs to be doing something. Television has not been a big thing to me since I was a teen. Sure, there were shows I enjoyed, but for me to sit for hours each evening and watchTV? No. That’s like telling someone who hates to read that they must sit and read a book for three hours each evening. Torture, right?

In my adult years while I was “watching” TV, I was also doing things like grading papers, doing macramé projects, working on cross-stitch projects, doing jigsaw puzzles, sketching, and things like that. For the first ten years of our marriage, my husband worked six days a week, so I spent much of my free time doing laundry, cleaning, running errands, and things like that. I was busy, busy, busy.

Yes, I got tired. It was a treat to have an hour to relax and look at a Southern Living magazine when the boys were young. As they got older and needed my attention less, I had time to do my craft projects (oh, I forgot about the lap quilts I made), read magazines and books, and other things I enjoyed.

I took care of my parents for years. My dad had major back problems, and I did things like mow their yard or take them places. As they aged, I ended up doing things like cleaning their house, getting groceries, and other things they found it difficult to do.

You get the picture. I lived a very “busy but blessed” life.

I know many of you would disagree with me, especially if you’re still working and just longing for retirement, but retirement is okay. Not great. Just okay.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s wonderful not to have an alarm clock controlling my life. And I’m finally starting to adjust to it after having been retired for seven years. The catch is I didn’t want to retire when I did. I had to retire because of the vision stuff.

Other than the first two years or so that I taught, I always enjoyed going to work. I enjoyed being around the people. I enjoyed having a purpose each day, a goal. I loved the feeling on Friday night (the best night of the week at that time) in knowing I didn’t have to go to work the next day and the special feeling of appreciation that brought to me.

Let me reiterate: I did get tired. And I dreamed about not having more time off and more flexibility in my schedule. Yet, looking back, I did not realize how everything that was going on in my life gave me a full life, not an empty one.

You may be thinking, “But now you’ve got all the time in the world to do those craft projects! You’ve got all the time in the world to run your errands! You can do what you want to do when you want to do it!”

No, I can’t. I’m not complaining, I’m just explaining. I can’t drive anymore, so I’m restricted to online shopping or my husband taking me somewhere or running errands for us. I can’t see well enough, even using my assistive devices, to do many of the projects I used to do. And I sure can’t enjoy magazines other than the audio versions on BARD.

Oh, my, it does sound like I’m complaining, doesn’t it? Maybe I am…a little. Not that anyone can change anything about it or make it better.

I know if I lived in the same town as children and grandchildren, I wouldn’t be as bored. I know I would be even more bored if I were not involved in several civic groups and in church activities.

And I know if boredom is the worst thing I have to handle, I am more blessed than many.

The point of this blog? Or rather, the points?

If you’re failing to appreciate what you have today because you are so tired and looking forward to retirement, realize it may not be what you envision. It depends upon your personality, your financial resources, and your hobbies.
Do what you can to enjoy activities now while you have the physical and mental abilities to do them. There is no guarantee you will be able to do those things when you retire.
Plan for your retirement by investing in a 401K or other retirement plan. You may tell yourself that you may not live until retirement so why plan for it, but believe me, you will regret it if your financial situation is very restricted. I’ve seen too many people struggle. You may want to travel or play golf or any number of things that cost money, and if you don’t have enough money to do those things, you will be sorry you didn’t plan for the future.
Take care of your health. Exercise, Eat right. All the stuff you’ve heard but possibly don’t do. You want to have the health to do activities. That is, of course, unless you’re okay with being a total couch potato and stuffing your face with food and drink and not caring about feeling well. If that’s your preferred lifestyle, you will love retirement and doing nothing, but I would predict your years to enjoy that lifestyle may be shortened considerably.
Do your best to be debt-free by the time you retire. I don’t agree with Dave Ramsey about everything, but he’s right about many things He has taken his own bad experience and turned it into a resource for millions. Maybe you should start listening to his podcast or reading his books.

My husband loves retirement, and I’m sure he’s in the majority of retirees, but even he realizes if not for travel and Pickleball, he would be bored many days.

I maintain this blog because it gives me something to do. I’m learning Braille for practical reasons and because it gives me something to do. I listen to audiobooks. I do knitted cap projects using a loom. I paint occasionally. I go to the wellness center. I’m in three civic groups and two bookclubs. I walk my dog regularly. I’m involved in church programs.

But I still have way more hours to fill than hours consumed by responsibilities. So my advice to those of you who may be energetic and goal-driven as I am, make a plan for retirement. Start a second career (even when dreaming of retiring from teaching, I never wanted to retire completely–I wanted to find a fun job like move to Memphis and work at Graceland or move to Nashville and work somewhere fun or even start my own publishing company).

I realize how blessed I am, don’t get me wrong. I cherish each day of my family being healthy and me being healthy because so many are struggling with serious health issues. I don’t mean to make this sound as though I’m unhappy.

I’m not. I just get bored. And if that’s the worst thing I can say about my life, I’m very blessed indeed.

Maybe you need to count your blessings as well as you begin a new year. It always helps put things into perspective. But I’d be curious to know if there are others out there who are like I am. Am I the only weirdo who doesn’t love retirement?A part-time job would be a perfect solution. I want the flex hours to be able to go help with grandchildren when needed (they live over two hours away). I want the Flex Time to go on trips. So, are there any employers interested in a part-time “blind” Spanish teacher or copy editor or content editor? If you want me to teach, I need an assistant with the vision to keep an eye on the students’ behavior since I can’t see faces or even see if there is a body more than ten feet away from me. Interested?

Hmmm…I didn’t think so. But consider the above an application. You may think I’m kidding, but I’m serious.

As I finish this blog, I’m not sure I’ll post it. I will think about it and be sure I feel comfortable with opening myself up like this. As always, I share my personal journey in the hopes of helping others cope with their own or at least put their own lives into perspective.

I guess I’ll stop now and get started on another knitted cap. Avery gave me some new yarn that will make a beautiful one. Our “Mad Hatters” group sends the majority of them to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and it gives me motivation to know one of the patients might benefit from and enjoy waring a cap that I made. One thing I’ve learned about my boredom issues is that if I take the focus off myself and put the focus on someone else in need, my boredom disappears. Serving others truly is the answer to many of life’s problems, even when we’re going through a valley ourselves.

Happy 2026, everyone. And read my blog about virtual travel this year. It may inspire you to do something similar!

2026: 50 states, 12 countries, and a recipe for Alabama white barbecue sauce

December 28, 2025 by Pam Harris, "blind" writer

50 states and 12 countries in one year? How is that possible?

Please allow me to explain.

No, I haven’t won the lottery. And no, I haven’t inherited a fortune.

But that’s okay because what I’m doing is free.

It all began with an idea I had when thinking about the upcoming year. 2026 is one of those decade-changing birthday years, and I decided I wanted to make all of 2026 a memorable year. I texted my two best friends since age 12 and challenged them to do one new thing every month of 2026 and report to the others what we did. It doesn’t have to be complicated. It could be something as simple as trying a food I’ve never tried. But the goal is to broaden our worlds by doing just one new thing each month.

They accepted the challenge, and my brain continued to spin. Of our 50 states, I’ve only been to 25. I’ve been to three other countries–Mexico (too many times to count since I lived in the southwest corner of Arizona during my growing up years), Canada (but only Windsor and slightly north of there when I visited Detroit), and the Bahamas.

You may be thinking, “Wow, that’s a lot” or “That’s not very much,” depending upon your own experiences. To me, it’s not enough. After all, there’s a reason I majored in Spanish and minored in French, and that reason was not to teach the languages and culture. The reason was to experience the cultures and use the languages.

Fate or God or just life had other plans (maybe all three), and I ended up following a different path.

That doesn’t mean I lost my curiosity or my desire for parts unknown. Now that I’m retired, I have the time to visit more places, but once again, life has thrown me a curveball. The vision issue.

Losing all my central vision along with some peripheral vision and being able to see not very far away with what I do see being very different from what normal people see means I can’t enjoy beautiful scenery anymore. I have to have assistance with things like boarding passes and navigating airports and things like that. True, I can get that assistance from my husband or friends or employees of the airline or cruise ship or whatever, but it’s not as easy as it would be if I had normal sight.

The dilemma, then, is what to do? How can I see the states and countries that interest me?

You’ve already figured it out. YouTube. I can sit or stand one foot away from our 65-inch smart TV and see scenery that I would never be able to see in real life. I can be a virtual traveler by viewing videos and exploring those areas in other ways.

I texted my friends something along these lines: In addition to trying something new each month, I will find a video about each state and send one video link each week for us to watch. I will begin with Alabama and work through the list alphabetically until we finish with Wyoming. Also, each one of us will pick a country to “visit,” and we will view one country video a month. Because there are three of us, that means I only have to come up with four countries to visit during 2026. I will select countries I’ve never been. My first choice is Austria. Blame it on my favorite movie The Sound of Music.

And the additional challenge to the world tour? Prepare a food that is common to that country. Prepare it in an authentic manner, not the Americanized version.

You may be thinking I have way too much time on my hands to come up with such crazy ideas, and you’d be right. I have lots of time. When you can’t drive and your children and grandchildren don’t live close enough to require your services or to be dropping by all the time, you have plenty of free time.

So, why not make the most of it?

I have already sent the link to the video about Alabama, even though the new year has not arrived, and I’ve already scheduled my “something different” activity for January. I’m meeting with a personal trainer to design a workout plan for me to help me achieve my strength and fitness goals.

It also looks as though we’re going on a Disney cruise (we’ve done other cruises, not Disney) in November with my youngest son and his family and in-laws. My oldest son doesn’t know it yet, but I’m going to approach him and his wife with the idea of the four of us going to New York City or Boston and Martha’s Vineyard. They’re places I’ve never been (obviously) but have always wanted to see.

Oh, a side note (you know how I get off topic at times) concerning places I recommend you visit if you’ve never been: Sedona and the Grand Canyon in Arizona, the Outer Banks of North Carolina including Manteo, Kill Devil Hills, Duck and Currituck, Washington, D.C. (stay inAlexandria and hop on the metro, be sure to go to The Holocaust Museum but take tissue along, see all the normal tourist places, ride the trolley on King Road in Alexandria down to The Potomac River), and the Caribbean (the water is incredible). Can’t go due to limitations? Virtual visits!

Okay, back on topic. I have an idea for December that I’m not sharing with anyone yet, not even my husband, because I have no doubt I will be told I’m insane or at least unrealistic. I’ll keep you posted on that.

None of us is guaranteed tomorrow. As I write this, one of my friends through work and church is battling ALS. A classmate is battling pancreatic cancer. My niece’s long-term cancer treatment is ongoing. My cousin’s husband has been fighting cancer and going through treatments for a year. My niece’s mother, who survived ovarian cancer, has the ongoing battle with Type 1 diabetes and an auto-immune disorder. Another cousin who battled breast cancer has now been diagnosed with another cancer not related to the breast cancer. I know several people with Parkinson’s.

I could go on and on. My point? Make the most of each day. Do what you can with what you have. Can’t afford to travel the world? Travel is the way I’m doing. Have a “bucket list” activity you’ve been putting off? Find a way to do it. Don’t be foolish in throwing away your money unnecessarily or by taking unnecessary risks, but if you want to and have the means to be a “Survivor,” “Amazing Race,” “Jeopardy,” or even “Wheel of Fortune” contestant, go for it.

If you read my blog at all, you know I push the idea of helping others and remembering people who are shut-in by calling or visiting or just sending a card. I’m not promoting selfishness here. I still think the greatest joy in life comes from helping others. But every now and then, it’s fun to give yourself a treat.

If you are perfectly happy doing what you’re doing, that’s great. We’re all different, and while you and I may not be able to relate to each other because of our dreams or lack of dreams, we can respect each other’s perspective.

I plan to share recipes along the way, so here’s the one for Alabama:

Alabama White Barbecue Sauce from Serious Eats

2 cups mayonnaise

1 cup apple cider vinegar

1/2 cup apple juice

2 teaspoons prepared horse radish

2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

2 teaspoons freshly squeezed juice from one lemon

1 teaspoon Kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon mustard powder

1/2 teaspoon Cayenne pepper

Step 1: Whisk all ingredients together in medium bowl. Let sit for 30 minutes and serve immediately with pork, chicken, or turkey, or place in jar in refrigerator and keep for up to two weeks.

Enjoy!

Can you answer these questions about Christmas? Take the quiz!

December 16, 2025 by Pam Harris, "blind" writer

This is the 20th Century Club in our community, the oldest women’s civic group in our town. It was formed in 1900, and no, we have no original members still with us. We have members as young as in their fifties (well, one, and she’s not in the picture because she was sick), and our oldest member is 96. But we have fun together, and what follows are some questions we had in a Christmas trivia game we played.

Confession: I created the game by researching. So if one of the answers given is not correct, please comment and let me know.

We did the game as a multiple choice activity, so I will give you those options as well. Correct answers will be at the end of the blog.

Christmas Trivia

When was Dec. 25 first declared to be the date of Jesus’ birth? a. 75 A.D. (I think the proper term these days is C.E. for Common Era, but I still use the B.C. and A.D.) b. 510 A.D. c. 33l6 A.D. d. 190 A.D.
Three wise men from the east followed the star to Bethlehem. a. True. b. False
Which of these Christmas songs has sold the most? a. “Silent Night” b. “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey c. “Blue Christmas” by Elvis. d. “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby
When adjusted for inflation, which of these movies grossed the most at the box office? a. “Home Alone” b. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” c. “Christmas Vacation” d. “A Christmas Story”
We Baby Boomers remember the Bob Hope specials that aired around Christmas. How many USO tours did Bob Hope and his variety of guests do for the troops? (not necessarily the Christmas productions) a. 12 b. 81 c. 57 d. 23
Who played “Mary,” Jimmy Stewart’s character’s wife, in “It’s a Wonderful Life?” a. Greer Garson b. Donna Reed c. June Lockhart d. Mary Pickford
How tall is the 2025 Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center in NYC? a. 75 feet b. 90 feet c. 120 feet d. 140 feet

I had ten questions, but these are all I can remember. I don’t have my original questions because I gave them to someone else to use at another Christmas party. Here are the answers:

336 A.D. The Roman emperor Constantine declared Dec. 25 to be the date of Jesus’ birth. In 350 A.D. or sometime after that, Pope Julius I made it official as a holiday to be celebrated by Christians. The date coincides with the winter solstice pagan holiday celebrated by Romans at the time. Scholars and theologians agree there is no evidence to support the date, but it is still a time for Christians world-wide to commemorate the birth of Christ.
False. the Bible does not say how many wise men came to see Jesus, but the number “three” is represented because of the three gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In addition, the wise men did not go to the stable where he was born. the Bible says they came to the house where he was, and Biblical scholars say Jesus could have been as old as two years old since Herod had the boys two years old and under slaughtered in his attempt to prevent a new king from taking power.
“White Christmas” by Bing Crosby. It has sold more than 50 million copies worldwide.
“Home Alone.” I was surprised to learn that “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “Christmas Vacation” were also very close, ahead of “Elf” and “A Christmas Story.”
57. Bob Hope began the USO tours in 1941, and his last one was in 1991 in Saudi Arabia during the Desert Shield era. One source said 47, but other sources said 57, so I went with that. Regardless, it was a lot! He was born on May 29, 1903, so you can do the math!
Donna Reed. Some of us remember “The Donna Reed Show” that aired from 1958 until 1966.
75 feet. I was surprised by this. I think it looks much taller on television!

How did you do? If I hadn’t been the creator of the game, I would have missed most of these questions. And, like I said, some of the numbers may be off a bit because if the sources used. I tried to use reliable sources since AI, believe it or not, is not perfect!

I won’t blog next week, so I will wish each one of you a wonderful Christmas and hope you will know peace and contentment during a time of year that can be stressful and sad for some as well as happy for others. Many thanks to all who take the time to read my blogs because looking at those stats warms my heart to know so many take the time to do so. I hope you find something in each one that entertains, inspires, comforts, or makes you chuckle.

Happy Holidays!

A Book Club Can Be Much More than Just about Books

December 9, 2025 by Pam Harris, "blind" writer

I do this a lot. I post a photo that has nothing to do with my topic of the day. I just thought this was pretty, a view of Sedona, Arizona, taken by my son when they were there this past summer. Sedona is beautiful. I highly recommend a visit.

Yesterday my small book club, consisting of six people, made our annual trip to Patti’s at Grand Rivers, Kentucky. Locals know the restaurant and area even if they’ve never been there. My lunch? Grilled chicken spinach salad with hot bacon dressing and one-half of Boatsinker’s Pie. It was very good, but really, the food wasn’t the main reason for the trip. It was the camaraderie.

We started out as a group of six, and we’ve kept the number to that. The original group consisted of three fellow teacher friends (all retired), a realtor who has lived in the same neighborhood as I do for over 30 years, and a younger mom of three whose husband was our church’s youth minister at the time. At first we rotated our meeting place each month, but that evolved into a regular spot at Blake’s (a popular local restaurant) the first Thursday of each month. Our youngest member took a full-time teaching job (we miss her, would have seven in our group if she were able to be with us!) and was replaced by the widow of our former principal at Dresden High School. We sit at the same table each month, and the staff knows us very well.

I have known all these women for over 30 years, and four of them for 40 years. If you can do math, you’re figuring out our ages, but that’s okay. I don’t mind sharing my age. Just don’t call me “sweetie” and treat me like my brain is on the level of a child. I can out-walk most of you much younger folks, I guarantee it.

Oops, there I go again, getting off-topic. If you read my blogs regularly, you know I do that a lot.

The way we do our book club is that each person has a turn choosing the book we’re going to read for the month. This is great because it forces us to read genres we might not read otherwise. There have been many times I started a book someone selected and would’ve put it down after a few chapters except for the fact I wanted to be able to participate in the discussion and honor my fellow member’s selection. And you know what? While there are definitely some books I would never read again, I found all of them interesting if not enjoyable.

I’m a strong believer in exploring new experiences and getting out of your comfort zone. I know some people just want to stick with what they know, but for me, that would be a very boring life. I am still curious about the world, and my brain is constantly thinking of ways to expand my horizons.

The books we read help to do that, but the group is so much more. Yes, we discuss the books, but we also talk about trips, grandchildren, health issues, family, and more. Yesterday the six of us rode in the same vehicle for the 72-mile trip to Patti’s, but due to the flow of conversations, the trip seemed much shorter. We had our own room (thank you, Mary Ellen), so we were not bothered by noise from other tables. We shared childhood stories, talked about some serious things, and laughed at other stories. And, oh, how we laughed. We always do, but yesterday I think we were almost giddy from all the food on the way back, and one story after another had us all laughing like school girls.

You see, being older doesn’t mean we don’t have a sense of humor. And no, alcohol was not involved. We were just being ourselves and enjoying the time together. In a way, it was like being in my twenties and thirties again. Kind of like when I’m with my high school best friends Terrie and Nancy, I’m a teen-ager again or a college student working at the local bank during breaks from college. With them, I’m not someone’s mom, someone’s teacher, someone’s wife. I’m just me. With my book club friends, it is similar, although I do have the added labels of “mom,” “teacher,” and “neighbor.”

I feel sorry for people who don’t have good friendships. I know some people are loners by. nature and have no desire to have a large circle of friends, but for me, the more the better. I love people. I may not like all people (well, I think maybe in my lifetime I can count maybe five people I dislike, and I will say that even those people I care about because they are God’s creatures just like all of us–it’s just that I’d rather not spend time with them), and I know I look at people through an innocent lens because I tend to think most people feel the same as I do about the world. I know, that’s a false assumption, but it’s just the way I think. At the age I am now, that’s not likely to change.

My life in retirement could be a fairly lonely one since I can’t drive anymore, and I’m beyond grateful for my friends and family I call my “Uber” drivers who pick me up for civic meetings, the wellness center, and other activities like a wedding or baby shower. I am blessed to have a wonderful husband who is my best friend in life, but even with that blessing, I need friendships. You may be the same way. My advice to anyone who can drive and is lonely is to look for groups to join or activities to do with others. Your church, your local library, a sports group like basketball or pickle ball, a quilting group, a painting class. All of those opportunities and more are available right here in my small town of 11,000, so I know small towns have options.

It may take a while to feel as though you fit in as you meet new people, but chances are you will eventually. Just remember you can always drop out if a year or so of meetings is not to your liking.

And, if all else fails, find a few friends to start a book club.

When we were at Blakes several months ago, “Southern Living” was there to take photos and interview people. A man came to our table and told us about a book club he was once a part of in Birmingham. That club, he said, was high end because they actually traveled to the place where the book was set to discuss the book! Can you imagine? I guess they never read A Gentleman in Moscow since travel there would be undesirable, but wouldn’t it be fun to read Jaws and discuss it at Martha’s Vineyard (or a book by Elon Hildebrand set there)?

Hmm…that gives me an idea. Maybe I need to pick a J.A. Jance book set in Sedona. Rent a house for all of us to stay in for a few days. See, my brain is spinning with ideas.

Happy holidays, everyone. And happy reading!

Traditional books vs. e-books vs audiobooks — the debate!

December 3, 2025 by Pam Harris, "blind" writer

“I just like to hold a book. There’s something about turn ing the page.”

I’ve heard that statement or a variation of it countless times over the past few years. I get it. I’m a book nerd from way back, and going into bookstores and libraries were not only a normal part of my life but also a special part. I never got tired of it, and seeing all the books available piqued my curiosity. I loved magazines as well, with their glossy pictures and interesting articles, and yes, when I was younger, I was into the Archie comic books.

So please understand, if you are one of those people resisting e-books and audiobooks, that I’m not criticizing you. I am, however, hoping to open your mind to new possibilities as I see them.

Remember when audiobooks were available on a CD, and you could get one at a Cracker Barrel restaurant, listen to it in the car while you traveled, and then turn it in at another Cracker Barrel? At least, that’s what my impression was. I never participated in that program, but when audiobooks became available to download on my phone, I jumped at the chance to listen to something besides the radio or a CD.

After all, I did, and do, love books much more than music. I like music, but to listen to it for hours at a time? Nah. Listen to book for several hours? Yep!

I listened to books on my commute back and forth to work and even listened while running errands in town. I listen to books now while walking my dog, putting in treadmill time, cleaning house, or resting at night before going to sleep. I can listen to books and fold laundry, cook meals, work on arts and crafts projects, and more. I don’t have to set aside time to sit down and read.

The narrators have gotten much better over the years, and many books have more than one narrator for each main character’s point of view. Have you ever read “A Gentleman in Moscow?” If so, you likely struggled with the Russian names. If you listen to the audiobook, that struggle is removed, and you can focus on the story, not the names.

Prior to audiobooks, though, I discovered e-books with the purchase of a Kindle reader. Yes, you had to purchase the books, which ranged in price from free (usually not the best books) to an average of $2.99 or so. They’re higher these days, but you can still find books on sale for very little. “I don’t want to spend money on books,” you say. “I just go to the library and check them out.”

Well, you can check out e-books AND audiobooks on an app through your local library. The one I use is called Libby. All you need is a valid library card. You download the app, find the name of your library, and enter your card number. Search for books by title or author, and narrow the search to e-books or audiobooks. You will have the book for two weeks. If you fail to initiate the return, the app will remove it automatically. I think there is a way to renew the book but can’t be sure. I haven’t used the app for quite some time because the vision loss prevents me from being able to read an e-book (unless it is on my iPad and purchased through Kindle–I can enlarge the font so much, there are only about ten words per screen, but since my reading speed is now about the same as a first or second grader, I can’t read an entire book).

For those considered low-vision, legally blind, or blind (remember only about 10to 15 percent of people considered to be blind have no light perception at all, the rest have some vision), an app called BARD is available. The patron must be certified by an appropriate agency or doctor to get access to the app, and audiobooks as well as Braille books (shipped from the Library for Accessible Media) are provided for free to the visually-impaired community.

Side note: the definition of legally blind is if you cannot see the large “E” with your better eye while wearing glasses or contact lenses, you are considered legally blind. If you CAN see the “E” while wearing glasses or contact lenses, no matter how bad your vision is without them, you are NOT legally blind.

To me, there are multiple advantage to e-books. You don’t have to store them. You can purchase them (Kindle app) and have them forever, or you can check them out on Libby. Less expense to purchase, and no need to run to the library to return a book. It’s all handled on your phone, reader, or tablet. If you find yourself struggling to read normal print, if you purchase the e-book, you can enlarge the print as much as you’d like. You can also switch it to dark mode meaning the background is black and the letters are white, so the screen doesn’t glare. You can adjust the brightness and contrast. Your book is always available, whether you’re sitting in a doctor’s office waiting room or sitting in the living room while your family watches something you don’t enjoy. Also, if you have Alexa and don’t mind the Alexa voice, she will read an e-book purchased on Kindle to you. Kind of a cheap audiobook, right?

I’m not suggesting that you switch to those formats and abandon paperback and hardback books. I am suggesting using those formats from time to time can give you more opportunities to indulge in your love of reading.

Believe me, I get the whole “I just want to hold the book.” There is something about seeing the printed word that is special to me. Whether it’s a newspaper, magazine, or book, there’s just something about the printed word that speaks to me. One of the hurts I have due to vision loss is my inability to read stories to my granddaughters, something I truly long to do. Maybe someday, though, they will be the ones reading to me, and we can enjoy books together that way.I realize I may not have convinced you to try other formats, and that’s okay. My goal was to open your mind to new possibilities. But whatever you decide, if you love to read as I do, know that we are kindred spirits.

Friendsgiving and community

November 19, 2025November 19, 2025 by Pam Harris, "blind" writer

I don’t know about you, but I’m a member of several communities. My family, of course. My town, obviously. My church family. My civic groups. At one time, I was a part of a work community but now in retired community.

And now there’s a new one.

A few months ago, a friend who lives down the road from me told me she had joined the Wellness Center and asked if I wanted to go. I was only too happy to join since I had been a member in the past and with my friend down the road going anyway, I had transportation. I was thrilled to be able to use the weight machines, treadmill, and walking track again, but the biggest surprise was how much I enjoyed the aerobics class.

Back in the day, I took Jazzercise classes and then worked out to those Jane Fonda videos at home, so participating in the aerobics class (I guess it’s a Silver Sneakers class?) was not a stretch for me. Our leader, known as LT, designs classes for all ages and ability levels, but let’s face it–all of us are “of a certain age” with some more “certain” than others. You know what I mean.

The fun of the class, though, wasn’t the only surprise. The second surprise developed rather than burst on the scene. I reconnected with people I hadn’t been around in years and met new people. I started being around former college friends, former co-workers, parents of former students, parents of children who are my children’s ages, and on and on. Soon I realized I was a part of a group unlike any I’d been a part of since college.

For the first time since college graduation, I spend a few hours each week with a group of people who are in or near my age group. Yes, I know, the eighty-somethings are not near my age, but we are all categorized as “senior citizens” whether we want to be or not. And although we come from a variety of backgrounds, we are able to have fun with each other while we work to keep ourselves as fit as we can.

LT does a great job of leading the classes, and honestly, I don’t know how she keeps from laughing at us. As we do the moves, we are definitely not in sync. Arms flying every which way, and some going left when they should be going right, and not to mention how we sometimes run into each other…I almost crack up laughing just looking at the few around me as we try to keep the pace. With her looking at approximately 40 people facing her, she’s bound to be wanting to laugh out loud.

This past Monday, members of the WC gathered for a Friendsgiving. We signed up in advance for what we’d bring (I made homemade bread, in case you’re curious), and the center closed for two hours to allow enough time to set up, eat, visit, and clean up. More than 100 people were there to enjoy the event.

You know, I think small towns get a bad rap. People complain of nothing to do, but in our town of just over 11,000, you can find plenty to do. You just need to look for it and take advantage of what’s offered. I’ll stop right there because that’s a blog for another day.

Back to my topic–ever notice how I get off-track in my blogs??–about community. I think of it as a group of people who share a common interest or circumstance. Think of sports fans, especially college sports fans. My husband has several Vols (Tennessee Volunteers, in case you don’t know what “Vols” means) caps and shirts, and he wears them wherever we go. If we are out of state, I guarantee he’s going to hear at least one person say, “Go, Vols!” Vols fans are a community, even if they don’t know each other by name.

Our common interest at the Wellness Center is to stay (or get) strong and fit. We don’t have to be best friends or share our feelings or any of that. But we can chit-chat, share recipes, talk about great books we’ve read or movies we’ve seen, and even our families. It doesn’t have to go beyond that to be a community, and honestly, I still don’t know everyone in the class. But I’m learning.

One Friday afternoon, I asked my husband to drop me off so I could use the weights and walk on the treadmill since it was too messy to walk outside. I was amazed at the emptiness of the gym. Two other people were there. I did my routine, but I didn’t enjoy it. It was boring not having people go by and greet me or ask me about something. It was boring not hearing the music played during the exercise classes. I didn’t like it.

Yes, I’m a sociable person. I love being a part of multiple communities. And when I can exercise and have fun doing it, I’m in a win-win situation.

If Glenda had not asked me if I were interested in going to the center, I never would’ve known about the classes and likely would not have tried them on my own even if I did. I might have joined the center but would have been limited to going in the afternoons most days since my husband is involved in the mornings with his own community–a bunch of Pickleball players who play three mornings a week–and I would have to rely on him for transportation.

I hope you’re a part of at least one community outside of your family or work. Don’t forget that it takes time to feel a part of a group, but in time, you likely will.

So, in this season of gratitude, I’m adding involvement in communities to my list of reasons to be thankful. My faith that sustains me, my family, my home, food to eat, clothes to wear, friends, electricity, running water…my list of things I’m thankful for is too long to share.

It is my hope yours is too. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

The importance of quiet time in my life

November 12, 2025 by Pam Harris, "blind" writer

That red glow is not from a forest fire. My son took this photo of the Northern Lights last night. He was not in Iceland or Alaska or any of those places we think of when we hear about the beautiful phenomenon. He was at home, right here in Tennessee.

Every once in a long while they’re visible, and I don’t profess to understand any of the science behind why we can see them so far south, but I am awed by them.

Here’s the catch. I can’t see them in real life because of vision loss. So my son took the picture and sent it to me, knowing I could see the beauty of this event on my large-screen iPad or on my 47 inch TV screen connected to my laptop. It doesn’t matter I can’t see them like he can. Just seeing the photo and knowing they were visible in our area is enough to impress. And maybe my friends who ave no sight can enjoy the sight by hearing a description of the photo.

Photo description: A black sky with a red glow behind tall trees. The trees form a line on each side of the photo with an open area in the middle that extends to the ground. The ground, to me, looks completely black. Small lights are visible in the openings between the branch of the trees.

“Here she goes again,” you may be thinking.”Can she never avoid mentioning something about her vision loss?”

Sure I can. And I’ve tried to avoid mentioning it, but since I am fortunate enough that the biggest hurdle I’ve had to jump in life is the vision loss issue, it is my point of reference. I haven’t struggled (yet) with a major health issue. I have been blessed with a wonderful family and friends. So when I think of the biggest challenge in my life, that’s mine. Yours is something else.

I’m bird walking. Teachers know what that term means. Back to the point I am trying to make.

He took photos of the night sky in Sedona this past June, and I have saved them to my gallery. When I was growing up in Arizona, we sometimes went out on the desert at night. There, away from city lights and without the humidity we have in our area, the stars were amazing. Now the lights of the town and the humidity and cloud cover we often have in addition to my vision issues make that experience a thing of the past. On a clear night, I might be able to see one or two stars that are very bright (probably Venus and Mars, right?), but at least I can see the star-filled sky in the photos. Beautiful.

There is something about the sky that is awe-inspiring to me. I look up at it often in the daytime. Sky blue is my favorite color, and the colors of the sunset…well, I just love the sky. Just looking at it brings me a sense of calm and wonder and appreciation. It quiets my soul.

My point? I think we humans often focus on the negatives instead of the positives. It’s human nature, I think, but I do believe it’s worse than it used to be. Blame social media or what’s going on in the world or the higher population (in 1960, the population of the U.S. was 181 million, today it’s 347 million), but it’s worse. We are bombarded with conflicting opinions, hate speech, too many activities to fill our time, and other things that harm our emotional well-being.

My solution? I watch the national nightly news maybe once a week. I watch the local news more often because their stories concern our area. I don’t scroll my phone. True, it’s mainly due to the vision loss because I have to use Voice Over which is not perfect and often annoying), but I check notifications on Facebook each day (usually), post a few times a week as the mood strikes, and live my life in my community as best I can. I stay informed, but I don’t obsess.

And I have quiet time. I sit on my front porch when the weather allows with no noise except for the sounds of nature and the wind chimes when the breeze is strong enough. If the weather is too cold, I find a spot indoors just to be. Just to be by myself with my own thoughts. I pray during those times. I reflect. But for at least fifteen minutes, I have quiet.

Yesterday my husband and I went to a town an hour away to do some shopping since he has no luck with online shopping for clothes and needs to try them on and our town is limited in its offerings. While there in the men’s department, I was touching all the clothes to feel the fabric and discovered some pajama pants that were so soft and warm, I just had to have a pair. Yes, they were in the men’s department, but I purchased a small, and though they’re a little long even for my five foot seven and a half inch self, they are wonderful. Last night, I put them on and commented more than once, “I just love these pajama pants. I wish I had bought more!” Just wearing them soothes me and makes everything feel cozy.

Photos (or descriptions) of the night sky, looking at the daytime sky, feeling the warmth of a comfortable pair of pajama pants, quiet time…the small joys of life.

I still fall victim to the negative mentality at times. I wish I didn’t, but occasionally I slip into that pit of wishing my life were perfect according to the way I see perfect.

Then I go on YouTube and watch the young man paralyzed from the chest down because of a dirt-bike accident and how he navigates life or talk to a VIP friend who has worse vision than I do or no vision at all, and it brings me back to the mindset of being grateful for what I have instead of being bothered by what I don’t.

I guess I sound like someone being preachy or being a counselor, for which I’m not qualified, but that’s not my intent. My intent is to share my own journey and thoughts in the hope it will help just one person who is navigating a difficult path. And I’m writing this because it serves as a reminder to me to practice what I preach. Hey, I guess I am being preachy!

When I was working, I often said working was what kept me sane. The busyness of life kept me from focusing on the worries and disappointments that life throws our way. As a teacher and principal, I was too occupied with school duties to think about my personal situation. Long days that extended into night activities like ballgames made me too exhausted to worry when I got home. Keeping busy really is a good thing in many ways, but I still carved out my quiet time. It was fifteen minutes each morning, before my family woke up, and those fifteen minutes calmed my spirit before beginning yet another hectic day.

There’s a song we sing at our worship services based on a Bible passage whose lyrics include, “Be still and know I am God.” There is a great deal of wisdom in that simple statement.

Be still.

And if your life is not a busy one and you have too much still time, be busy. Oh, my, that’s a blog for another day!

Chances are if you’ve made it this far reading my blog, you are doing so simply because you know me personally or because you can relate. People who don’t relate likely stopped reading after the second paragraph if they even made it that far. And that’s okay.

The holiday season brings joy to some and sorrow to others due to many causes. If you are someone who struggles during this time of year, I hope you can find joy in the little things of life if circumstances have robbed you of the big things. I hope if you’re lonely that you will reach out to someone else who may be lonely so you can help each other. I hope you can know peace.

Best wishes to all, and thank you for reading and/or following my blog. I am grateful for you!

RayBan Meta glasses — how I use them every day

November 5, 2025 by Pam Harris, "blind" writer

This photo is AI generated, so if you want to see what my glasses look like, go to my YouTube channel Journey to Sight.

These smart glasses can be used by anyone, but they are the latest hot topic in the VIP (Visually Impaired Persons) community. Why? Because at prices ranging from $300 to $379, they are much less expensive than most aids for people with low vision, and they work better than many apps designed for people who cannot see.

You may be wondering how they work, and that’s what I’m going to attempt to explain in this post.

First, I’ll answer the question I’m asked most often. No, they do not help me see. If you are someone who wears glasses and wants to use your prescription, your doctor can put lenses in the frames, but for people like me who are not helped by glasses, we just leave the glasses as they are.

Second, you can p purchase them with clear lenses, shaded lenses, or, as in my case, with transition lenses so they are clear indoors but transition to sunglasses when in the sun.

Third, you can buy them online on Amazon or even directly from a RayBan online store. You can select your style by doing a virtual try-on if you go to the RayBan site, and once you order them, you will receive them in a few days.

The set-up is easy. You download an app to your phone and pair the glasses to whatever you would like–phone, messages, music, audio books, etc.

The glasses have a case in which they are stored and charge while storing. You charge the case just as you would a phone, but the glasses get their power from a small charging area inside the glasses case.

You can find videos about the glasses on YouTube, but I am going to share my personal experiences and how I use them.

The glasses have a camera that enables the app to see things for you. The frames contain speakers that allow you to speak and to listen. When I walk my dog, I wear the glasses so I can listen to audio books, but I also notice if my dog seems to be on high alert and see something I can’t. I simply say, “Hey, Meta, look and tell me if there’s an animal or human ahead of me.” Or, “Hey, Meta, look and tell me what is in the middle of the road.”I talk on the phone while wearing them even though my phone is in my pocket. I listen to text messages using them. I You get the idea.

I use them to read things for me like cards people send to me (they can even read cursive handwriting), typed correspondence from organizations, street signs, and more. They help me locate things like where I placed something, or they tell me what an object is that I can’t recognize from a distance. The other day I couldn’t find the TV remote. I said “Hey, Meta, where is the TV remote?” The first time Meta could not tell me. I looked at a different area of the room and asked again. Meta told me where it was.

Allow men to explain. I was at the wellness center this morning and was forced to use a treadmill with which I’m not familiar since my preferred treadmill was out of order. I said: “Hey, Meta. what color is the ‘Start’ button and where is it located?” She told me, and then I asked, “Hey, Meta, how do I set the speed on this treadmill?” Her response was the various options I had to set the speed.

A few days after I got my glasses, I was at a local restaurant where my book club meets each month. At lunch, you place and pay for your order at the register and get your own beverage. The servers bring your food once it’s ready. (Okay, I’ll say it so locals know. We meet at Blake’s!) That particular day, I didn’t have to ask any of my friends what was available on the menu. I like getting something different each time. So I held up the menu and said, “Hey, Meta, what salads are on the menu?” I decided on the house salad and said, “Hey, Meta, can I add chicken to the house salad?” She (I have a female voice set for my glasses) told me I could. When I took my glass to the beverage station, there were three tea dispensers. I said, “Hey, Meta, where is the unsweetened tea located?” She told me, “The unsweetened tea is located on the far right.”

It felt wonderful not to have to ask someone for help.

The glasses do a great job of answering your questions so you don’t have to search the old-fashioned way. This morning I asked the glasses for the phone number of the library in a neighboring town.

I ask the glasses for recipes. I have the glasses read directions to me when cooking. I can ask the glasses what temperature the oven is on. I use bump dots to label the buttons I need to use, but I can’t read the digital numbers unless I lean way over above the stove-top and get my face a few inches from the screen. With the glasses, I don’t have to do that.

I use the glasses to make videos and take photographs. You just say, “Hey, Meta, make a video recording” and when you’re finished, you say, “Hey, Meta, stop.” Go to my YouTube channel (Journey to Sight in case you forgot) and you will see several videos I made while wearing the glasses. After you make the videos or photos, you will open the Meta AI app and follow the prompts to import them to your gallery on your phone.

Your phone will need to be within 30 feet of the glasses for the glasses to work since they operate via the app.

No, they won’t help you see. But they will help you live a more normal, independent life. And no, RayBan is not paying me to do this. They don’t even know I exist, and I doubt they need someone like me promoting their product.

The product speaks for itself.