It's Finally Here!

If you all are getting a little tired of me talking about this book, well, it is finally here! After years of dreaming, rough drafts, starting over, ditching the whole idea, beginning again one more time, making it fiction, finally realizing it should be real, here we go.

FROM THE BOOK JACKET:

In 1950, Myra Yarborough, age six, finds herself transported from rural North Carolina to the NC State School for the Blind in the state’s capitol of Raleigh. The family she loves seem far away as there are no phones in her home and a six week long stretch between visits. As America is changing, the school for the blind has an archaic feel and the housemothers seem to have stepped right out of one of Grimm’s fairy tales. Follow the challenges of growing up in an environment that seems resistant to change. Many people and friends contribute to Myra’s search for balance between a blind and sighted existence, between smiles and tears, and between opinions and reality. As you follow Myra’s growing years, you will get a glimpse of being blind through this perspective, and come away with a new understanding of blindness in the 1950s, as well as what it is like today.

To say putting the book out there does not make me a little nervous would be an understatement. Yet, it is with tremendous excitement I present this book, hoping you will enjoy it and will take away something useful to add to your own walk through life.

It is my hope and plan to begin marketing through local book stores, however, until I am able to accomplish this, please check out the on-line ordering procedure below for a hard copy or an E book. I am hoping this may be something worth your sharing with friends who may need a little smiling, or even a little tears. Perhaps it will help to bridge a gap between the blind and sighted communities while it brings encouragement and hope along the way.

Thank you so much for sharing my blogs and facebook posts as I have been working on this project. I will be posting from time to time what is happening with the book, as well as continuing my blogs which I hope help show the day-to-day activities and experiences we all go through together.

Lulu.com is the self-publishing website that I used to create my book. The book is now available as an ebook and a paperback book through Lulu.com. Please click the link below to purchase a copy!

Paperback: 
http://www.lulu.com/shop/myra-yarborough-debruhl/changing-places/paperback/product-22046891.html

Ebook:
http://www.lulu.com/shop/myra-yarborough-debruhl/changing-places/ebook/product-22046852.html

In the near future, my book will also be available through other retail distributors such as amazon.com, as well as Barns and Noble. I will keep you updated when this happens!

Thank you for your support!!

Special Program

I remember when I first thought of applying for a guide dog. Proudly, I walked away with a Golden Retriever named Holly. She was three years old and was donated to the school because her family was breaking up. I walked away with a real prize from their marriage, yet never really sat down and thought about her life before she was my dog.

Holly and Mego

As Mego came into my life, I began to realize just a little of how difficult it must be to part with a puppy you have loved for at least a year. Could I do this? Give up a puppy I had loved and taught all the things young dogs need to know? During Mego’s life I met a lady who really enlightened me of the selfless gift from someone who puts in their time and their hearts into the dog that becomes the guide dog that walks a person through the paths of life.

Mego as a puppy

Mego with his puppy raiser

Vivi is my third guide dog gift. Now I am more sensitive than ever concerning those puppy raisers who help these wonderful animals become the loving guide they were created to be. I missed Vivi’s third birthday in getting out this blog, but here are my thoughts as I look at the entire process that took place even before Vivi was born.

Vivi in training 

Vivi with her puppy raiser  

                                   

Puppy Raiser

I heard about this program where I could get a puppy

I could take him home and keep him just as though he would be mine;

Give him all my love and teach him everything he'd need

To grow up to be a guide dog for the blind.

A very special program, so I reached out my hand;

And I held this little puppy--and I loved him just like mine!

Now I'm searching deep inside me to find the strength that I need

To let him be a guide dog for the blind.

Did I do it good enough?

Teach you all the right stuff;

Please don’t look back or I might cry,

You must go with your trainer there

Do you know how much I care

I didn't know it would be so hard to say good-bye.

Blindness

I heard about this program where I could get a guide dog

To take me all those places where I cannot go alone;

Brand new taste of freedom! Almost as good as seeing.

Now my dog and me?--We'll make it on our own.

A very special program, so I reached out my hand

I'm holding to the harness of the one I'm so proud of!

Now I'm searching deep inside me to find the words that I need

To say thank you for such a special gift of love!

A gift that keeps on giving,

A special way of living,

A heart that is so willing to be a guide;

Helping me to see

How it was meant to be.

Two hearts that walk together, side by side.

A very special program, Two people reach out their hands,

Intangible touch of love of a unique kind.

I thank you beyond measure, your gift truly a treasure,

As you see this way of giving to the blind.

Holly, Mego, and Vivi