I woke up momentarily confused at 12:21 a.m. Rain was hitting the side of my leg. The tornado siren was going off and the power was out. Even though I woke up 33 times last night because of the clear plastic shield over my eye, that confused me even more. 

It was completely surreal and disorienting. 

I made cheesecake out of the buttermilk of the situation. I’ve spent a couple of hours out on my landing enjoying the smell, look, and feel of a completely dark neighborhood, experimenting with my newly renewed eyesight. 

I hate that my eyes, although blessed with incredibly youthful nerves and venous structure, fell prey to rapid-onset milkiness. I got a new lens in my right eye yesterday. My vision already feels like I’m looking out a recently and perfectly cleaned window, after staring out through dirty glass. 

I took a lot of pictures, experimenting with color and perspective. The power is still out but it feels like the last few hours passed in a few seconds. 

I’m appreciative of the science that has renewed my eyesight. I’m going to miss the kaleidoscopic rainbows that the defect gave me in the last few weeks.