Tried Braille. Computer screen not set up for it, nor is iPad. Put on distance glasses (aaah!), drove to my local CVS store and bought an off-the-shelf pair of reading glasses. I had to guess at the strength, but they will do until I get my prescription glasses back.

I have a friend who is blind and nearly completely deaf. This experience with not being able to see clearly -- or read anything at all -- had brought him to mind. His wit and intelligence shine most clearly through his emails, for which he uses Dragon software, enabling him to communicate at will.

In person, he can't understand me at all. My speaking range is in the frequency where he is totally deaf--or I can't speak loudly enough, I don't know which.

He isn't house-bound, though. He goes shopping at Trader Joe's and goes to church every Sunday (assistive listening device enables him to hear what's going on). He can barely walk, being bent over and arthritic, but he manages.

I often think that it's a good thing children are unable to empathize with the physical ailments of the elderly. That knowledge would make it a sad world for them -- old age plus illness will come soon enough.

The moving finger writes and having writ, moves on....