Final answer:
The passage primarily deals with themes of separation and adaptation, as Lois Sivits recalls her difficult adjustment to a school for the blind and her desire for a more typical childhood experience.
Step-by-step explanation:
The central idea of the passage, which focuses on Lois Sivits' experience of being sent away to a school for the blind as a child, centers around the themes of separation, adaptation, and longing for normalcy. Despite the foreboding transition, it highlights the impact of such experiences on a person's memory and emotions.
Lois's account portrays her initial struggle with homesickness and the prolonged period it took for her to adjust to her new environment, all the while pining for the opportunity to lead a life akin to that of her peer, Calvin, who could attend public school.