Baldwin Road old-timer demanding progressives prescription assured by optometrist that vision still fine, though Applewood Acres shedding foreground

G Papa Tango
Aug 4
4 min read

In the quiet suburban enclave of Baldwin Road, a seasoned resident has sparked a conversation on the changing dynamics of vision, both literal and metaphorical. As the neighborhood of Applewood Acres undergoes a transformation, one longtime inhabitant stands firm in his demand for progressives—a poignant metaphor for adapting to the evolving landscape.

Mr. Harold Jenkins, a fixture of Baldwin Road for over four decades, recently visited his optometrist with concerns about his sight. Despite his insistence on acquiring progressives, Dr. Emily Sanchez reassured him that his vision remained sharp. However, Mr. Jenkins remains unwavering in his preference for glasses that accommodate both near and far distances, perhaps symbolizing his desire to navigate the shifting perspectives of his community.

Meanwhile, the backdrop against which Mr. Jenkins resides, Applewood Acres, is experiencing its own evolution. Once a bastion of tradition and familiarity, the neighborhood now faces the winds of change, with new developments altering its foreground. As modernization creeps in, long-standing residents like Mr. Jenkins find themselves confronting a landscape that is both familiar and unfamiliar—a reflection of the broader societal shifts towards progressivism and innovation.

The juxtaposition of Mr. Jenkins’ insistence on progressives with the changing scenery of Applewood Acres encapsulates a universal truth: the inevitability of change. While some may cling to the comfort of the past, others embrace the promise of the future. In this microcosm of suburban life, the convergence of individual choice and communal transformation paints a vivid portrait of resilience and adaptation.

As Baldwin Road continues to be a witness to the passage of time, Mr. Jenkins stands as a reminder that clear vision—whether through spectacles or insight—remains essential in navigating the ever-shifting landscapes of life. And as Applewood Acres loses its familiar foreground, it gains the opportunity to redefine its identity—a testament to the enduring spirit of progress.

FURTHERMOREOVERKILL

G Papa Tango, what historical incidents happened likely because of poor eyesight?

Absolutely — let’s cast a wider, more global net this time. Poor eyesight, particularly before the invention and widespread use of corrective lenses, has likely shaped events in every region. Here’s a broader list of historical incidents or outcomes across cultures that were possibly influenced by poor eyesight:

1. Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō (Japan) — Russo-Japanese War (1904–05)

Tōgō, the famed Japanese naval commander, had very poor eyesight, especially as he aged. Despite this, he commanded from the deck of his flagship during the decisive Battle of Tsushima. Some historians speculate that his reliance on intuition and delegated observation — because he couldn’t see enemy ships clearly — actually helped him focus on broader strategy instead of micromanaging.

2. Emperor Hadrian’s Inspection Errors (Rome)

Hadrian (76–138 CE), the Roman emperor, was known for his detailed inspections of military and civil infrastructure across the empire. However, ancient records occasionally note “mistaken” praise or condemnation of soldiers and buildings, suggesting he may have been visually impaired, especially in later life. Errors in judgment may have led to uneven treatment or resource allocation.

3. Ibn al-Haytham (Iraq/Egypt, 10th–11th c.) — Theories of Vision

Rather than an incident, this is a transformative moment because of eye trouble. Ibn al-Haytham was fascinated by optics — possibly due to personal vision issues — and wrote Kitab al-Manazir (The Book of Optics), radically influencing both the Islamic and Western scientific traditions. His obsession with how the eye works may have come from his own imperfect vision.

4. Zhuge Liang’s Battlefield Decisions (China, 3rd c. CE)

Zhuge Liang, legendary Chinese strategist of the Three Kingdoms period, is sometimes depicted squinting or needing assistants to relay visual details. Though these may be romanticized, his reliance on clever tactics like misdirection, smoke, and illusion may reflect limited eyesight — turning a weakness into a tactical philosophy.

5. Shah Jahan’s Misperception of Rebellions (Mughal India, 17th c.)

As the builder of the Taj Mahal aged, he reportedly suffered deteriorating eyesight. During the war of succession among his sons, some historians argue that his visual and physical decline impaired his ability to judge allegiances and threats correctly — contributing to his loss of power to Aurangzeb.

6. Battle of Isandlwana (South Africa, 1879)

British commander Lord Chelmsford famously underestimated Zulu strength during this battle. While no records confirm poor eyesight, there are suggestions that his staff misread distant movements — possibly due to bad field glasses and poor visual observation — contributing to the catastrophic British defeat.

7. Pre-contact Polynesian Navigation Errors

While Polynesians were master navigators, oral traditions from certain Pacific islands speak of rare voyages that missed their mark, possibly due to aging navigators' failing eyesight — especially when distinguishing wave patterns, stars, or bird movements. In such cases, elders with diminished vision may have misjudged routes, leading to legends of lost islands or “wrong landfalls.”

8. Medieval Persian Miniaturists

Some manuscripts from medieval Persia show astonishingly detailed miniatures. However, later copies by aging scribes or apprentices (possibly with poor vision) include perspective errors, miscolored elements, or duplication of figures. These minor visual mistakes subtly altered artistic transmission and cultural memory.

Would you like a short list of legendary or humorous examples as well?

Has there ever been a writer who attempted to write 'out of focus'?

There isn't a well-known writer who specifically attempted to write "out of focus" in a literal sense, where the text would intentionally blur or distort to mimic the visual effect of being out of focus. However, experimental literature and avant-garde movements have explored unconventional techniques that challenge traditional forms of storytelling and language usage.

One example could be the literary movement known as "stream of consciousness," which emerged in the early 20th century and sought to depict the continuous flow of thoughts and feelings experienced by characters, often without a clear narrative structure. Writers such as James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, and William Faulkner experimented with this technique, creating texts that sometimes blurred the boundaries between inner and outer reality.

Similarly, writers like the Beat Generation authors (e.g., Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg) and later postmodernists (e.g., Thomas Pynchon, Don DeLillo) played with language, syntax, and narrative structure in ways that might create a sense of disorientation or fragmentation, akin to being "out of focus" in a metaphorical sense.

While these writers didn't necessarily aim to mimic the visual effect of being out of focus on a page, their experimental approaches to language and storytelling could evoke a similar sense of uncertainty or distortion in the reader's mind, challenging them to engage with the text in new and unconventional ways.