4 eyes good

My dad is a huge fan of Animal Farm by George Orwell. After finally convincing him to read 1984, we’ve been able to have some really cool discussions about both books. I read Animal Farm back in high school, and 1984 just two years ago. Honestly, a lot of the historical context behind Animal Farm flew over my head, but my dad, being a history buff, really loves it. I’m not sure if he knows every single allusion to the Russian Revolution, but he’s drawn to the themes. Good vs. evil is universal, after all. Plus, it’s pretty silly to imagine pigs in power.

What I really appreciate about Animal Farm is how short and accessible it is—you don’t need to be a history expert to grasp its discussions on power dynamics, the corrupting power of knowledge, and group behavior.

On a totally different note, I also inherited my dad’s nearsightedness—my siblings and I are all cursed with it. Honestly, I think it adds character to our faces, but maybe I’m just coping with the fact that I have to shell out for glasses! One of my favorite parts of this nearsightedness saga is choosing new frames—my go-to site is Zenni Optical.

One day, my dad and I were chatting—either in the car or at the dining table—about designing a new pair of prescription sunglasses he wanted to keep in the car. We were debating frame colors, lenses, and then hit a hilarious snag when we tried to come up with a custom engraving. The character limit was super tight, and every idea got shot down for being too long.

Somehow, one of us (I honestly can’t remember who) came up with the phrase “4 eyes good” and we cracked up for ages. Without even saying the original phrase, we both immediately knew it was the perfect engraving.

In Animal Farm, the animals teach each other to spot friend from foe with the mantra: “4 legs good, 2 legs bad.” Of course, for those of us who wear glasses, that means “4 eyes good.”

I doubt anyone who sees the sides of my dad’s sunglasses will get the reference, but I’m so grateful for this little inside joke we share.