Do you remember the Cyclops of Greek mythology?

A cyclops (pron.: /ˈsaɪklɒps/; Greek: Κύκλωψ, Kuklōps; plural cyclopes /saɪˈkloʊpiːz/; Greek: Κύκλωπες, Kuklōpes), in Greek mythology and later Roman mythology, was a member of a primordial race of giants, each with a single eye in the middle of his forehead.The name is widely thought to mean “circle-eyed”.

It is upon Homer’s account that Euripides and Virgil based their accounts of the mythical creatures.Given their penchant for blacksmithing, many scholars believe the legend of the Cyclopes’ single eye arose from an actual practice of blacksmiths wearing an eyepatch over one eye to prevent flying sparks from blinding them in both eyes. 

I thought of myself as a Cyclops, a one-eyed monster, which you’ll understand after you read the text message I sent my family members today.

Before I comment on my condition, let me explain that indeed, today marks the beginning of seven church services I’m playing before I get on the plane to California on Christmas Day.

1. Saturday Vigil Mass and Benediction at St. Mark’s
2. Sunday morning worship service at Nuuanu Congregational Church
3. Sunday High Mass at St. Mark’s
4. Monday funeral at Nuuanu Congregational Church
5. Wednesday, Christmas Eve service at Nuuanu Congregational
6. Wednesday, Midnight Christmas Eve High Mass at St. Mark’s
7. Thursday, Christmas Day High Mass at St. Mark’s

As for an update on my eyes, there is encouraging news. I went to a follow-up appointment with the retinal specialist today, and the antibiotics seem to be breaking up the inflammation. I still can’t see out of my right eye, but I have occasional glimpses of my normal vision even if they only last a split-second. Still unknown is whether the inflammation will take several months to clear up or whether it’s permanent. Fingers crossed it’s not the latter!

And I survived tonight’s Vigil Mass, with me playing as the postlude, Bach’s trio on “Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, BWV 660. Here’s a performance performed by Bine-Katrine Bryndorf, organ, with the scrolling score, for you to see what a challenge it must have been for me.

View the video by clicking here: https://youtu.be/v09UQ7NFtUk?si=P0f_Jl82VDdKlY0c

Not bad for a one-eyed organist, eh?!