Surely it’s not August already, even though it certainly feels that hot and humid - hope you all had a great 4th! I’m sure many of you are concerned and upset about the Gulf oil spill and may be rethinking or have changed your usual beach plans, but there are still swimming pools, pristine white sand and ocean breezes to enjoy on our coast. The Pacific has kelp, the Southern Atlantic coast has humongous jellyfish; we may have a crisis, but still the most beautiful beaches anywhere.
   I hope you all are being judicious about sun exposure and remembering your sunscreen. Think about protecting your eyes as well with good sunglasses, and insisting on hats with wide brims for your little ones. Now that we know the potential dangers that can come later on in life, we can be more proactive.
   Dr. Hammonds and I participated in the annual American Optometric Association meeting in Orlando in June. She works with the InfantSEE® committee which is committed to providing free eye exams to babies, and I am on the Disaster Relief committee that approves grants for optometrists who suffer financial losses due to natural disasters. As part of a recent fundraiser for that relief foundation, husband John and I did a “spotlight” shag dance at the party and managed not to embarrass ourselves!
   An ongoing member of our office staff, Anna Rowe will be assisting us this summer as she completes her undergraduate work at UAB this summer. Anna plans on entering UAB School of Optometry next fall.
   We’ve all been training on our new OCT – Optical Coherence Tomography – machine which provides retinal scans of your eyes. The detail that the scanning laser produces of the retina is phenomenal and will be invaluable in detecting and managing glaucoma and retinal defects.
   Now that school is out, and schedules are more relaxed (hopefully!), many of you are focused on vacation planning and weekend getaways. May I remind you to include making that appointment for your children’s annual eye examination soon. Avoid the last-minute August rush when you have other school preparations on your mind.
  Mark your calendar for our next Frame Trunk Show to be held the first part of December. Details are still being finalized, and we will let you know specifics in advance.