I didn’t get the pirate patch I wanted, but I got one to put over my left eye while I write or take pictures. Doctor Solomon laughed when I asked if he had a pirate patch, but he pulled this one out of his drawer, and we attached it to my glasses.

If I use the right eye, I can see clearly and colorfully. With both eyes in the open, there is much confusion. I’ll get glasses for close-up things like reading a few weeks after the final surgery next week.

I like the patch, although it didn’t have the punch of the pirate patch. I guess a 77-year-old man with an eye patch is not about to scare anyone, Halloween or not. I’ve decided Maria is a good witch with special powers. She didn’t say no.