I have these old glasses that were ready to be replaced about two years ago. The lenses were so scratched that driving at night was like living in a kaleidoscope. This may be fun when you’re tripping, but not so much when you just want to get home. And the enamel had worn off of the frames so much that the other day, I cut my face. As I struggled to insure against infection, I knew I could wait no longer. So the other day, I finally went to get new ones.
About 15 years ago, I had thought it would be cool to get a pair of thick-rimmed, Buddy Holly type specs. No one was doing it at the time and so I was talked out of it by my friends. They assumed I was joking. Recently I was told how good I would look with such frames by a pretty girl. Being a guy, it rarely takes more than a kind word from a girl to change my mind. It’s why I’ve worn boxers since 1999, but that’s another tale.
But I noticed every hipster in Williamsburg, Jersey City, and and the Lower East Side had them. And, that girl I mentioned was big into fashion and only liked the look because it was in style. As soon as I placed the thick, hipster glasses on my face, my stomach turned. It was an odd feeling. The face I saw simply wasn’t me. I’ve never been one to follow the fashion lemmings, so I stepped back and decided to simply go with what I liked and not what society dictated. It’s why I still have no piercings or tattoos which again is another tale.
The fact is, I hate wearing glasses and if I could afford it, I’d get the surgery to correct my vision. In the meantime, why the hell would I want to direct such attention to the fact that I’m wearing glasses? Especially when, in about a year, this will all be out of style. So I went for a very, very light frame. It took about an hour just to decide. The folks at Lenscrafters were very patient.
Speaking of Lenscrafters, since I never get my glasses changed all that often, the final price always surprises me. Yes they have cheap exams, yes they have cheap frames and yes you get them in an hour. However, the cost of the actual lenses is what kills me. Of course after the exam I found out that my prescription didn’t change a lick in eight years and I could have at least saved the exam money. Oh well, besides no one will give glasses with all the needed guarantees on an eight-year old prescription.
So there you have it. Once again I’ve decided to go with my gut and avoid the curse of fashion. It looks like I am continuing to condemn myself to a life of alienation in Williamsburg; to feeling like a stranger in Jersey City; to being oddly outta place on the Lower East Side and everywhere in between in this hipper than thou land I live in. Whatever, I like my new glasses.
