inventions of note

We had Easter dinner at my brother-in-law’s on Sunday. It was a great dinner, but about 8:00pm the lights flickered a few times and then the power went out. It was kind of cool. Candles were lit. Flashlights were retrieved. And, we really just carried on the conversations like nothing happened. Until I tried to take a flashlight into the bathroom, and the batteries failed. Nothing like trying NOT to freak out while in a strange bathroom, by yourself, in pitch black, with your pants down. And, while I made it out of the bathroom seemingly unscathed, it was interesting to note how dark it was, and how we are so not used to it. In fact, when we left a few hours later, it actually seemed "brighter" outside than it did inside. (Was it a full moon this weekend? I didn't check). This all got me to thinking what it was like over 100 years ago, when there were few homes with electric lights, so everything was done by candlelight. I can't imagine what it was like to do needlework by candlelight! My eyes are terrible to begin with, and I have a hard time seeing my stitches while sitting under 100 watts of electric candle light.

That got me to thinking about what inventions or things that have come around in the last 100 years that I could not live without. The resulting conversation with myself actually surprised me. There was the usual things that I initially put on the list (electricity / light bulbs / my hair dryer / mapquest / cell phone / car / iPod / internet / etc.), more out of initial reaction rather than actual "needs". (and yes, I did note that hair dryer was early on in the list…I guess I’m more vain than I thought I was!) But, when I really thought about it, I could actually do without all of those things. And, at one point in time or another, actually have. It was also interesting to note how many things invented in the last 100 years have been electric or electronic in nature.

What surprised me the most was this: I could not live without contact lenses. I wear extended wear lenses, which means I put them in, and live with them for a month, before I take them out and change them for a new pair. I eat, breathe, sleep, shower, and swim with them in. Almost like I’m a normal non-glasses wearing person. And, while I do own a few pairs of glasses (2 for reading and 1 pair for distance….and I know what you are thinking….why do you have a pair of glasses for distance? Well, they are there just in case something happens and (god forbid) I can’t wear the contacts…think “item protruding from eye”, or “massive eye infection” as the only possible explanations for such a scenario….but I digress…..)
Where was I?
Oh, yes….I do own a pair of glasses, but I only wear them for 1/2 day, once a month, when I change out my contacts, just to give my eyes a “rest”. Although, my doctor has never told me that it’s necessary to do that, I do it more for the reason that it sounds “good for me” rather than it’s “necessary”.

Now, glasses have been around for more than 100 years, but contact lenses certainly haven't. And, I'm blind as a bat without anything. And I absolutely hate the thought of going more than a few minutes without anything and not being able to see what's around me. So, the morale of this story is this: If I ever get transported back in time, I’m taking my damn contacts with me!