Today we will look at a few more days along Route 66.
Although, most folks that responded to my last blog post found it open and honest, and enjoyed the humor I used to get through what was discussed, one person said that it was somewhat depressing, more so than any other. I thought that perhaps the person missed the humor within but said that life contains struggles and that my blog was about being honest and sharing my journey, both ups and downs. I asked Denise what she thought and she reiterated how she appreciates my honest and open approach to writing. She said that she always appreciates how I deal with things with humor and gratitude, and how I always share the bits of wisdom that I include. Now, I don’t think that I am some spiritual guru and it is not my intent to heal the masses, but I do believe that it is important to share what I experience, only in so much as (perhaps) to show someone who reads my blog that we are all human, that we all have joys and struggles, and that if they have felt alien due to their own experiences and feelings, that they are not. Basically, I am trying to live the Al-Anon 12th step, if only in the abstract. The step reads: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
As always, take what you like and leave the rest.
March 5, 2026
When I saw my family doctor last week and mentioned, in part, that I was feeling a bit depressed, she had me fill out a mental health questionnaire. When all was said and done, she said that the results showed that I was mildly depressed. As mentioned in the last blog post, I passed on anti-depressants but would consider them next fall. She did provide me with a leaflet with a link to a Saskatchewan-based website that offers online therapy. The Online Therapy Unit, offered by the University of Regina looked interesting so I decided to apply for an eight-week course called Well-Being for Mental Health. It is free and only available to Saskatchewan residents. I filled out an application and made an appointment for an intake interview on March 9th.
March 6, 2026
I had my laser eye surgery today. Two zaps in each eye created new drainage holes to replace the apparent blocked ones that are a natural part of the eye system. This should help lower the pressure in my eyes and to slow or halt the progression of glaucoma.
Denise came with me for support and to drive me home if needed after the procedure. After multiple sets of drops to freeze the eyes and to constrict the pupils I sat in the waiting room for a while. The result was somewhat distressing since it felt like I had eye strain on steroids, you know, quite intense. I mostly just sat there with my eyes closed hoping the whole business wouldn’t take too long. After a while I went to see another clinician who wanted to discuss my upcoming cataract surgery. She explained the options that were available to me – mono-focal lenses or multi-focal lenses, two types of the latter. The mono-focal lenses are fully covered by Saskatchewan healthcare, the multi-focal ones are not, costing up to $1500.00 per eye. Getting mono-focal lenses likely means that prescription glasses are still required afterwards, depending on one’s eyes, but quite often, only readers are required – even those readers that one can buy at the drug store might suffice. My wife, Denise, has had the surgery and she just uses readers, which she has many sets strategically placed around the house, so she doesn’t have to wear them on a chain around her neck, or lose them continually. Because we got mono-focal for Denise, I explained that I would get those too. Denise’s experience made the decision easy to make, and it wouldn’t be fair if I got the multi-focal lenses when we didn’t get them for her.
A little while later it was time for the laser. After having the first two zaps in my right eye, and a “that went well” comment from the doctor, I told the her that I was feeling quite emotional and on the verge of crying. She gave me a moment to gather my self and then she did the left eye, again saying that it went well. The actual laser zapping was not troublesome at all. The mechanism to hold the eyes open felt weird but the zaps felt like little scratches on my eyes, barely anything at all. I was relieved about that.
Afterwards, I told the doctor that I’m just a big baby, which sometimes I feel like I am, but, hey, I’m an empathetic, feeling kind of guy. She mentioned that lots of people are nervous about the procedure, so a bit of emotion is not uncommon. Later as I pondered this, I thought about all my experiences with loss of body parts or abilities as I age. It most definitely feels like loss and some grieving is warranted.
When the procedure was over the doctor put more drops in my eyes and they immediately began to feel better. In fact, I was able to drive home afterwards without worry.
I did get a prescription for additional eye drops which I was to use for four days. Easy peasy!
I have some follow-up coming at the end of April. That will likely include checking the eye pressure and to ensure drainage is occurring as needed. If it’s not working, I guess it will be on to something else, but for now, it’s one day at a time.
I’m on the list now for my cataract surgery which will be in about one year. I asked if both eyes could be done on the same day and she said that because I was getting the mono-focal lenses that was her preference too and is what will be done.
Once I was through the eye surgery, and at home, I spent some time with Google checking out what biological natural eye lenses are made of. It was quite an interesting read, and I won’t go into that here, but you can sure do that on your own if interested. Reading what Google had presented reminded me how much of a miracle life and its complex systems are.
After the initial question about natural lenses, I asked about replacement lenses for cataract surgery. I asked about when they were developed and how much change there has been over the years. The results were amazing. As always, necessity is the mother of invention, and the beginning as stated by Google AI is pretty cool. Sir Nicholas Harold Lloyd Ridley, a British ophthalmologist, invented the first intraocular lens (IOL) for cataract surgery in 1949. He was inspired by World War II fighter pilots whose eyes tolerated shards of shattered acrylic (PMMA) plastic from cockpit canopies. His first successful implantation occurred on November 29, 1949, at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London. By tolerated, it means that the body did not reject the material. Think about how important this is, when you consider organ transplant which has a huge risk for rejection, and the medicines that are required life-long to prevent the rejection.
As all things, development of the replacement lenses has been nothing short of miraculous. Lenses are now so thin that they can be rolled and inserted into microscopic slits in the eyes that do not require the multiple stitches that earlier versions required – thus quicker healing and recovery. It is estimated that approximately 25 to 30 million cataract surgeries are performed annually worldwide, making it one of the most common surgical procedures globally. Isn’t that remarkable!? Again, I am reminded of the ingenuity of people who make these great strides for us – which of course, makes our lives better.
March 9, 2026
I had my Online Therapy Unit intake call on this day. I found the intake clinician very easy to talk to. She asked many questions to help us narrow the focus – what class to take and what I wanted to achieve by going through the process. Each Monday I will start a new segment online. It will include reading and answering questions, some presentations, and a chance to chat with fellow participants. I will be assigned a therapist and can ask for personal attention with her if needed – to focus on something specific or answer questions. The therapist, however, is not used in the same way one might see with individual counselling. With the online route one might get to spend fifteen minutes here and there in one-on-one. It all sounded quite interesting and I found myself looking forward to starting the program.
I am planning on sharing much of what I learn and think about during the 8-week process. Come along with me if you like.
Below is the gist of what I ended up saying to the intake clinician about what I was after.
So, here’s what I’m thinking is the biggest problem. Although I’m happy to the core, and I have all these tools and what not to help deal with life, I have right now the feeling of “what’s the point?” I know that my purpose in life is to just live life and be the best person I can and try to leave it a better place for me having been here, but when I look ahead, if I’m not living one day at a time, I think is this it, is this what it’s going to be like for the next 20 years? Basically, it is good, life that is, but it’s missing something just now – I don’t know what. I enjoy my time with Denise and my family, and I enjoy my time in our beautiful condo. I sometimes wonder too, when I keep busy with my art and my writing if that is just another form of escape? Is it just another addiction which brings me a high – which it does, and I really love doing it or is doing this, living this way, okay? Is that what we do, do we find things to enjoy which keeps our head on track and out of the gutter with our own baggage that is always trying to sabotage things. Is it a matter then of using our tools to get out of the muck – to stay out of the muck or to not be in the muck so long – as opposed to staying stuck or avoiding moving forward and growing from it all. I don’t know why it feels confusing right at this time, and I’d like to find that answer. As I’ve said before, we’re in the winter months. Now that we’re coming out, I feel a lot better already, but when I’m in the winter, it’s just harder, it saps me of energy, and this sense of purposelessness feels a little stronger. I think that’s the two things I want to look at with this therapy.
I wouldn’t mind talking a bit too about aging, my wife’s health including her Parkinson’s, which I handle all very well, but do have fears about her suffering and eventually losing her – again, this all when I am not living fully one day at a time.
I start the 8-week course on March 16.
As Route 66 is a blast from the past, I decided to use another vintage image of something I 3D modeled and rendered for the feature image. It was something I did in 2019 when I was on a vintage kick.
Turbo-O-Matic Vending Machine – Modeled & Rendered by Don Cheke
It is, of course, a vintage cigarette machine. In this case, I modified it to be a TurboCAD software dispenser – four versions. Back in the day, the cigarette machine typically had eight or more brands. Do you remember them?
Here’s a bit of a funny story to go along with the cigarette vending machine. Back in my drinking days, I would go to a night club called the North 40 with friends. That was in the days when urban cowboys were the thing. I had the coolest cowboy hat – very Mickey Gillies! Anyway, while there one day, I found that I needed a new pack of smokes so went to the vending machine. To my surprise, there was a brand-new, unopened pack of Export-A in the tray. Well, that was a bonus I thought and grabbed them. When I got back to my table I opened the pack, and low and behold, it was filled with filthy cigarette butts. Obviously, for the sake of a prank, someone had carefully opened the end of the pack, filled it with butts, and resealed. I could see a bunch of guys laughing their guts out at a nearby table and although I felt pranked – foolish – I kept my cool, so I didn’t add to their pleasure. Later, in the parking lot, I put a beat on them. 😊 Not really, but I wanted to! I truly hate pranks as someone always comes out feeling the fool.
That’s all for now. I hope that you are having some great days, and that your mental health is as well as you would like.
Donald B. Cheke – Saskatoon, SK