The Burden of Age

James在电话中埋怨说由于右眼白内障缘故，这次重新延续驾驶执照时视力测试没有通过，因此，驾驶执照没有能被延续。我告诉他可以做白内障摘除手术，恢复视力，并且用我奶奶的例子鼓励他。

奶奶由于高龄白内障几乎造成双目失明。然而，在奶奶94岁那年，爸爸的同事亲自为奶奶做了白内障摘除术，双眼视力都被恢复。一直到奶奶接近102岁（差3个月）高龄去世时，她的视力都是良好。而那白内障摘除术离现在已经18年了，这18年的医学发展和进步使得白内障摘除术越来越成熟和成功。

听了我的劝说，James答应这个星期与他的眼科医生预约讨论相关事宜。这也使我想到今年将90岁的公公左眼白内障问题。公公酷爱阅读、书法、写诗作词。左眼视力在这1、2年来的逐渐退化影响着他的业余爱好和生活质量。去年回国探亲时，我就劝公公做白内障摘除术，也用我奶奶的例子鼓励他。当时，公公答应今年春天去做。这个周末与婆家亲人们通电话时得知，公公对是否做白内障摘除术还是犹豫不决。一方面，他希望改善左眼视力，保持原有的业余爱好；另一方面，他对手术有些担心害怕。我当然是尊重老人家自己的选择，不强迫他接受手术。也许，今年我和先生回国探亲时亲自陪公公去医院做手术，如果老人家愿意。

愿Ecclesiastes中的这段话成为我的警醒：“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）。




音乐《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!