The Public

Do You Have The Time?

I had just started using my long white cane wherever I went. Up until this point in my life I had felt like I stuck out like a sore thumb if I used it. I thought it made me look helpless.

This middle aged woman approaches me and stops in front of me. I remember thinking that she thinks I’m lost and she is going to offer to help me. I take a deep breath and prepare to explain that I am just fine and don’t need any help but thanks for the offer.

The woman totally surprised me by asking, “Could you tell me the time?” I was, of course, wearing my Braille watch. I flipped it open and gave her the time. She thanked me and went on her way.

I was astonished. It was so normal, so routine and every day. She hadn’t assumed that I was lost and needed help. Even more amazing is that she saw me as a resource for information. This one happenstance interaction on a crowded sidewalk was the very first step to my own understanding that being blind is okay.

Do You Dress Yourself?

We pull off the interstate and pull into the first convenience store. We all go in and take care of our individual needs. I got done first and was waiting for the others to finish getting their sodas. The clerk at the register asks me, “Do you dress yourself?” I was so totally taken aback I wasn’t even sure I heard her correctly. I asked her to repeat herself. She did and I had heard her correctly. I was speechless.

By this time in my life I had been using my cane daily, explaining blindness to everyone, learning new skills and just really getting on with living. I had been asked a lot of questions by all sorts of different people. I felt comfortable with answering and talking about blindness in general. But I had no idea how to even begin to answer this woman.

I said very simply, “yes”. What else could I say? I’m in a gas station in the middle of nowhere. I have no time to have a conversation with this woman, who obviously has no clue about blind people.

I remember thinking that I was very glad that I didn’t live in this particular town and that I would never have to return. Isn’t it totally ironic that more than 10 years later it’s the town I live in? I have few problems on a daily basis with the rest of the people that live here. I’m glad that I didn’t base my opinion of an entire city of people on that one woman’s ideas.

Can I Take Your Picture?

On Christmas day we were eating in the only restaurant that was open, a Jack and Jill. We ordered our food, got our drinks and found a seat. Although I have a guide dog I decided to leave her behind for this trip. I had my white cane with me, which I am totally comfortable and confident using.

We are eating our meal chatting about the trip and how different Christmas is when you are away from home, when this older gentleman comes over to our table. Everyone in Texas is very friendly and we are very obviously not Texans. I figure this guy is going to welcome us to Texas and wish us a Merry Christmas or something like that. Instead he asks if he can take our picture.

It was rather awkward for me because the gentleman would not address me directly. He would only speak with my husband. The situation was further complicated by me having a mouthful of food. My husband gives him the go ahead on the picture.

He takes our picture, while I still have this mouthful of food. So somewhere out there, there is a truly great picture of me making a pig of myself!

The man stays a few moments longer at our table explaining that his brother is blind. He tells my husband how great it is that I get out and do things. I got the very distinct impression that his brother didn’t. The man was just so excited to meet another real blind person. He wanted to take the picture to show his brother.

I’m glad that I could brighten this man’s Christmas. At the same time I am saddened that a blind lady eating lunch in a fast food restaurant is anything special. I knew then I had to do more to reach people to help them understand that being blind isn’t the end of the world.