I had called my 58-year-old nephew. I just found out that he was going to be a grandfather and I wanted to congratulate him.
We spoke for a few minutes and he asked me about the Eye Care Center, which was founded in 1970 by my late husband, Dr. Jacob Rosner. Dr. Thomas Phillips now owns it with Dr. Nathan Csonka.
My nephew got very excited. He recognized the name. My nephew was a big fan of Larry Csonka, who is in the Football Hall of Fame.
I am not a sports fan and had no idea how much sports and players are part of peoples’ memories.
As my nephew spoke about Dr. Csonka’s cousin, I realized that he was reminiscing about his love for his hero Larry Csonka. Bryan was his fan since he was 7 years old. He spent an hour talking about Larry Csonka.
At 7, he’d read his biography and remembered that Larry Csonka carried a dog in his mouth. When he was 8, he went to a Joe Namath camp. He only went because he would meet Larry Csonka. He still remembers how sad he was when Larry Csonka did not show up. He remembers he sent for a picture with an autograph and was so excited when he received not one, but two autographed pictures of Larry Csonka. He said he felt so special that he got them.
He is now 58 years old and still has these memories. I realized how sports figures play an important part in children’s lives.
I went to the Eye Care Center to tell Dr. Csonka about my hour-long conversation with my nephew.
Dr. Csonka added that he is involved with eyes when children come in because they are not hitting the ball correctly or missing the basket or not kicking the ball in soccer. He is in a way their hero. He is making them happy by allowing them to participate in what they enjoy just by helping them see clearer with a change in a prescription.
You never know. Maybe one of them will be in the Hall of Fame, and some 58-year-old man will be reminiscing about them... not knowing that the optometrist should be thanked.
Carolyn Rosner lives in Warrington.
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