Frames And Mental Blocks

It may be an absolutely perfect day for Halloween – gray and dreary, rain early on but supposed to clear off by trick or treat time, just cool enough that the Halloween costumes should be comfortable without it being freezing.

We took a trip to Chillicothe today for some shopping. Hubby and I both commented on the drive home what a beautiful “Halloween” scene it was in an Amish field that was full of corn shocks – with the dark cloudy day, they looked almost spooky as they silhouetted against the sky.

I've been the victim of my own mental bias the past month. I've tried to get past it, but I just haven't been able to. The end of September I got new glasses. I was looking forward to the new frames and lenses. I noticed before picking up the new pair that I was charged more for the frames than I thought they cost. While my new frames were being adjusted, I asked about the charge. The customer service rep pulled up my info on the computer and informed me that I was charged correctly – then she commented that what I was wearing were men's frames.

I don't consider myself sexist. I'd like to think people who know me would agree with that. These frames weren't glaringly “male”. In fact, they looked okay on me. They were comfortable. I can see. But for a month, there's been a little voice every so often that says “they're men's frames”.

The reality of the frames is that I arrived at my appointment early just so I could try on frames. I found the ones I wanted within five minutes of my arrival. I handed them to one of the customer service reps, who laid them aside for me. Because of some issues I never quite understood, I then sat for almost an hour and a half before I was seen for my exam......it was almost 11:30 when they called me back for my 10 o'clock appointment. So there was some level of frustration that I'd blown an entire morning waiting for an eye exam.

When my exam was finally over and I came out to order my glasses, the customer service rep I'd talked with earlier was on lunch break. I told the one helping me finish up that I'd already chosen my frames and they'd been laid aside for me. The only thing I can figure out is that at that point the wrong frames were picked up. And in my frustration at wanting to finish and get out of there, I didn't notice. (And, in my defense, I didn't see the frames on my face – they did not have a mirror at their desk, and the only time I had the frame on was when they marked my trifocal line.)

So, truthfully, my issue with these glasses isn't so much that they're men's frames but that they're not the frame I chose. I've really tried to make peace with them, but it just wasn't happening. The nice thing was knowing that there was a 60-day satisfaction guarantee with the glasses, so I still had time to pick out a different frame. I decided today that it was time to “fish or cut bait”, as they say. I told hubby that I wanted to see if they had the frames I'd originally chosen (they did not have them the last time I was in) – if the frames were in stock, I would ask for the change. If they weren't, then I would be at peace with the frames I'm wearing.

I was almost like a kid in a candy store when I walked in and saw “my” frames on the display rack. I tried them on to doublecheck, and they look great. The ones I have on are okay.......the ones on order are so much better! I pulled out my paperwork, answered the questions about why I wasn't satisfied with the ones I had on, and the replacement specs were ordered. The better news is that they should be ready for pick up in a week.

So all's well in spectacle land......and the good news is that since I'm swapping out for a less expensive frame, I got money back today! You can't beat going to a retail facility, getting something you really want and getting cash back! Now I know how my couponing daughter-in-law feels! It made for a perfect opportunity for me to treat us to lunch at DQ.