A DAY IN THE LIFE

 

(A mission from a blind person, to help us all understand each other better).

 

Once about approximately twelve years ago I met a friend who influenced my behavior in a positive way. I was complaining about folks who said things when they thought I couldn’t hear them like: “bless her heart.” Those kinds of remarks tended to make me crazy mad and I found myself wanting to turn on them in such a way that they would probably pray for my heart instead of blessing it. This person pointed out to me that I had no more of an idea how it seemed to those who could see than they had of how it is for me not to see. I will admit that there still are occasionally times when I want to stick out my tongue or make a face when someone points to a product I am asking about in a store or asks one of my friends: “Can I pet her dog?”  However, as I sit here I feel the need to pay tribute to all those good folks who have helped me in so many ways, and point out a few good people in so many places.

Where to begin? How about those sweet ladies who have been willing to drive their cars a hundred miles to see my mom, refuse to accept a tank of gas,  and then bring me back home, people like Margaret, Winnie, Dorsey, Teresa, and Mary. If these special ladies don’t enjoy doing this, they surely have me fooled. They love seeing Mom also. Now that we can’t go shopping or riding around or out to eat anymore because of mom’s health, still they go! Then Janet, from another hundred miles away drives down to visit and always says: “What do you need help with?”

I know there is a TV show called “A Day in the Life,” so I don’t want to get sued; maybe I should call the blog, this day in my life.

But before I get to this day, let me tell you about my ophthalmologist. He and I have appealed the decision of my insurance concerning eye drops at least four times, at least so many times that now the only way to win is to go through a hearing with a judge. The drops cost me $135.00 a month because my eye reacts badly to the preservatives in the generic. Believe me, we have tried oodles of drops and this is the one that works without side effects. Instead of going through a hearing he just tells me not to worry, he’ll take care of it.

So now, just a few people from this very day. First of all, anyone who is blind really resists asking for help as much as possible. Well, there may be a few who have no problem with it whatsoever. Anyway, as my vision deteriorates it is necessary for me to ask for help more than I ever thought I could. Almost eighteen months ago the City of Raleigh begin working on getting an audio light and painted crosswalk at a street I cross which has become busier since the building up of businesses in the area. Finally about a week ago it appeared.  This morning it wasn’t a difficult decision for me to go to Sam’s Club which is on the other side of that crossing. Vivi has learned where the pharmacy is in Sam’s Club, but this morning I was going to the watch counter. I asked the lady inside the door which way I should go. She was going to tell me by yelling the turns to me while I walked as she said “I can’t leave my desk.” However, after noticing she couldn’t direct me that way I heard her heels come tap, tap tapping across the floor as Vivi followed her to the right place. Then I heard someone call my name and some friends I hadn’t seen in several years gave me a ride back home.

Time for the gym. I have missed going to the gym for over half a year and for the past month it had seemed like either Vivi or I had forgotten where things were. Today as I stood on the art trainer a person came up and asked me if I remembered him. He worked with me when I started going to this gym quite a few years ago, showing me where things were, even counting steps in places to find where a turn was to the next machine. As I hugged him I asked “Have they moved something around in here?” As it turns out, they had moved things, some in one direction and some others and some out altogether. He again took me on a tour of where things are, even counting steps in one new area.

After gym time was over I waited for a cab that never came. I called the dispatcher and she told me to call my usual cab driver, who not only came down town to pick me up, but took me all the way to the mall. Suddenly I realized it was 2:30 and I had not had lunch, so Vivi took me to Chic Filet, because they are the best people to help. The first thing I had to ask someone about was “Am I in line?” The next thing was “Can you swipe this card for me?” All those machines don’t work the same way. The next thing I had to ask was: “Could you please help me find a table?”  To all my questions a very friendly person answered me as if I was the only customer there. Vivi followed him as he carried my food to a table, then came back to see if I wanted more drink, then came once more to take my tray for me.

Time to go to Sears, where I was once again going to a watch repair store as they didn’t have one in Sam’s Club. Sears will put a battery in a Braille watch for free, which is, in itself, a really nice benefit. So, of course, I went in on the wrong floor. I listened for a cash register. Hearing none, I had to ask someone where one was. Finding it, the cashier told me the elevator was just across the room but not only that, she walked with me, pushed the buttons, went upstairs with me and walked me all the way to my destination. You might think this person “me,” would know her way back out of the store into the mall? Not a chance. Vivi just headed one way and I hung on. Finally, after an appropriate distance, I asked someone which way to the mall. You guessed it, another person to help. I was close enough

however that he could just stand where he was and tell me when to turn.

Now, if anybody wants to say “bless her heart,” go right ahead. My heart was blessed by at least eight people just today, not counting those mentioned earlier. I think I am beginning to learn the meaning of the Tim McGraw song “Humble and kind,” well, the humble part anyway. It would be such a fine thing to be able to influence someone in such a positive way as my friend did for me a dozen years ago. It’s so much easier now to ask for help if I absolutely need it, and to experience the goodness in so many people in our world, the good news we don’t often hear about on TV.