I can see clearly now

Phil Cobb Glasses

Notice anything different?

Well, this is going to take some getting used to.

Four eyes have to be better than two, though. Right?

I remember being in first grade and being told I had to wear glasses.

I hated it.

I got made fun of.

They gave me headaches.

They had thick, black frames, and they were stiff.

I think I wore them for about a week, much to my parents’ disapproval.

Something tells me I probably didn’t need glasses at the time, because from that point on, I did just fine without glasses.

Until the past few years.

I’m not sure what prompted the eye test in the first place.

I don’t ever remember having difficulty seeing the chalk board or anything of that nature.

But I’ve noticed over the past two or three years that it’s been a lot more difficult to focus on the words on a page when I’m trying to read, and I do a lot of reading.

Even when I would boost the percentage of zoom on my computer, it was difficult to focus on each individual word.

I could make them out, obviously, but there’s no doubt it was causing too much strain on my eyes.

More importantly, my failing eyesight was having an effect on my ability to find my golf ball … as if the tall grass, weeds, trees, water, etc. wasn’t enough.

Pretty much anything more than a six iron, and the ball would totally vanish from my sight.

Where it went after that was mostly just a guess.

I’m sure my playing partners got tired of my pleading, “Please make sure you watch where this goes.”

So here I am, rocking the spectacles.

I’ve already been told that I look like my IQ has raised 10 points — be nice.

I’ve been called studious and distinguished looking.

I’ve also been called four-eyes.

I guess not everyone has moved on from first grade.

But the main thing is that I can see.

Immediately after putting them on, I began to notice patterns and details.

I noticed that trees actually have individual leaves, on their branches.

Amazing!

My wife is going to love this part … I can read road signs.

It’s incredible.

With vacation fast approaching, I’m sure she will be glad I can see the names of streets before I actually need to turn.

It’s the little things.

Can’t imagine how many U-turns this will eliminate.

So the distance part of my vision problem has undoubtedly been solved by the new specs.

Haven’t tried to play golf in them yet, however.

I’m sure that will be a process.

Seeing things up close is a different story.

I was assured by the team at Family Eye Clinic that my eyes will adjust to the trifocals over the next two weeks.

I think I can notice an improvement already, just in my second day.

But most of all, I’m looking forward to vacation.

Since this will be mostly a sight-seeing excursion, it will be nice to be able to fully see the sights.

As you know, my plans of taking the family to Yellowstone sort of fell through, so we’re going to head to Yosemite instead.

It will undoubtedly be the Cobb version of the Griswold’s trip to Wally World, but we will be looking for Yogi and Boo Boo instead of Marty Moose.

I’m sure Yosemite is just as busy as Yellowstone, if not more, but there are many more options for affordable lodging in neighboring towns.

Actually, according to Chaundee, Sequoia National Park is really the primary destination.

Chaundee has a love for all types of trees that was instilled by her father at a very early age, and seeing the biggest of the big trees has always been a goal of hers.

I’m personally more interested in the mountains and whatever wildlife we might encounter, but I can certainly appreciate the trees.

As family vacations go, I’ve never really been much of a planner, and I’m pretty sure this trip will exemplify that more than any other.

We have no reservations, no travel itinerary, and no real time line.

Like most of the things I’ve done in my life, we’re just going to wing it.

Google maps tell me that we have somewhere around 24 hours of drive time ahead of us — both directions.

I’m thinking about asking my Colorado friends Lee and Nary Maple for a place to stay on night No. 1, but beyond that, we’re just going to figure it out as we go.

We’ll probably land somewhere around Reno, Nevada, on Day 2 and then figure out how close we can stay to the national parks on the third night.

We definitely want to take in all there is to see around the parks.

Not sure if we will make it to the coast, but I’d like to check out at least part of the Pacific Coast Highway if we get the chance.

The closest I’ve ever been to the west coast is Washington’s Puget Sound.

Regardless of where we end up going, what we end up seeing, and what we actually do, it will be a much appreciated break.

I am very fortunate to have employees I can rely upon to get the job done while I’m gone, without having to worry about whether it will be the way I want it to be or not.

Actually, I’m already finding myself in full-blown vacation mode.

We’ve had so many changes over the past year, I’m just ready to take in a big ol’ deep breath.

It will be nice to have a chance to gather my thoughts, and upon our return, focus clearly on what is next to come.

Pun intended.