August 15, 2020 - News Post

I'm writing this on the internet. That means I'm required by law to mention Star Wars on a regular basis.

There's a minor spoiler for Return of the Jedi coming up. If you haven't seen it, watch the movie and then come back so you know what I'm talking about.

Near the end of the film Vader has a chat with Luke Skyhopper or whatever. He asks Luke to help take his hat off. He says something along the lines of,

“Luke, help me get this mask off. I want to look upon you with my own eyes.”

I truly haven't watched this movie in decades, I could have looked the line up for certain. But the gist of line has stuck with me my entire life.

Why?

My tiny child brain assumed Vader was talking about not wanting the waves of light to be filtered through lenses before they touch his eyeballs. He wants to look at Luke, not through tiny plastic sunglass lenses, but with his actual corneas.

Now, I wear eyeglasses. Corrective lenses. I have since the 80s. Did this mean that I wasn't viewing the world with “my own eyes”?

Yes. Yes it did.

Naturally, I took that to heart. I developed a habit of pushing my eyeglasses aside to let the actual light hit my actual eyes. I do this on special occasions, and I've done this my whole life. If it's important, I've seen it with my own eyes.

Celestial events, scenic landmarks, celebrity dogs. You name it.

I'd say I don't know why I do this, but I just told you why I do this. It's something I do consciously. Several times a year, my brain says, "Oh this is important. You'll never see it again. Better take a look with your own eyes." Perfectly normal.

My one regret in life is that I've worn contact lenses throughout so much of it. Taking those out is like removing a mask. I know exactly how Vader felt.

I wonder if he had astigmatism as well.

You, dear reader, haven't been missing the world with your own eyes, have you? I hope not. That's how the dark side wins.

-Jeff