May 17, 2007 By James Pletcher 3 min read

I’m not blind. Yet.

There seem to be a lot of deficits in today’s youth-oriented world. Products are marketed to the younger man and woman. Demographics appear to favor that age group for such things as cars, travel, entertainment, etc., neglecting the older generation, we Baby Boomers and those beyond, who must sometimes struggle with society-induced deficiencies.

Like what? How about fine print.

Have you looked up a phone number recently or tried reading a paperback book or even attempted to decipher the type on someone’s business card?

It seems like the whole world has conspired to make sure that any printed word image is so slightingly engraved that it would require a Hubble telescope from three inches to read.

Oh, sure, smaller print saves paper and ink. But what good is it if you can’t read it?

So, while 20- and 30-somethings may have little difficulty seeing the number for their favorite pizza place, entertainment venue or friends, we Baby Boomers are scrambling for our bifocals, magnifying glass or binoculars in order to read the dosage instructions on a bottle of medicine, cholesterol levels in our food or the number for our family doctor.

Case in point. I recently attempted to call a local food vendor to place a takeout order. While this is a place I have dealt with for years, the telephone number is not one I can easily recall. Dragging out my phone directory, I flipped through the pages searching for the number. Once on the correct page, I thumbed down the list of what were nothing more (to my five-decade-plus eyes) than a bunch of dark squiggles.

I wear bifocals but can usually read close up without them. At least until the print reaches the vanishing point. Then I have to peer through the lower part of the lens while slightly lifting my glasses.

And, at times, even that seems to be of little benefit.

I have a magnifying glass but refused to get it, irritated that the print in the phone book was too small to discover even with bifocals.

I dialed what I thought was the number.

“Hello,’ the person on the other end of the line said.

“I’d like to order…’ I began.

“I’m sorry. You have the wrong number.’

“Oh, I apologize,’ I replied.

Scanning the list of numbers again, I once more dialed what I believed to be the eatery’s line.

Nope. Got it wrong again.

Despite it being broad daylight with sun streaming through the windows, I turned on a light, held the phone book directly under the bulb, adjusted my specs and finally had a clear view of the correct digits to dial.

By that time, it hardly seemed worth the effort.

Oh, I take vitamins and try to rest my eyes as much as possible but nothing seems to help. It would be nice if things were printed in larger type, but that’s very unlikely to occur at this point in time.

So, the next time you get a wrong number from someone trying to order a prescription, food or find out what time it is, have pity. It might be me.

And don’t worry. I’m polite. I will apologize. And probably ask you to look the number up for me.

Have a good day.

James Pletcher Jr. is business editor of the Herald-Standard. He can be reached at 724-439-7571 or by e-mail at jpletcher@heraldstandard.com.