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Ode to Grey | Jan 28 2002

There is a form of colorblindness in which the world is reduced to shades of grey, like a black and white film. (Funny that “black and white” really means “shades of grey” in this context.)

What must that be like?

I’ll tell you what I think. I think if one previously saw colors, it’s crushingly sad. And then in time one adjusts, by which I mean forgets.

The healing power of forgetting.

And then there are those who are born in a grey world. This seems worse still: to know that there are colors—right here, here, and here—that you’ve never seen and never will see. I doubt this could ever be forgotten.