Great things about being blind. Listening to voices.

I know! I know! Ipromised to tell you a funny airline story but that will have to wait until tomorrow. The reason is that I was listening to some radio announcers this morning talking about how when people meet them, they say, "You don't look like what I thought you would look like." A great thing about being totally blind is that I would never say that. Smile. People are always amazed when they call me on the phone and I know exactly who it is right away. Of course I would. I know people by their voices. By the sound of their walk at times. Some people always wear certain shoes. Clicky high heels. Squeaky leather. Some people always rattle their keys in their pockets, jingle coins, some people always wear a certain scent (although in these scent free days that is not as good an indicator of who someone is) People that use a walker or cane or have a squeak in the wheel of their wheelchair I can tell by the sound sometimes. But the voice is the easiest thing to recognize. Although sometimes when I meet someone in a different environment from what I am used to seeing them in, I might take a minute to figure out who it is. Tomorrow back to air travel. Fasten your seatbelts for a great story.

Great things about being blind: being awakened by the noisy snow plough

Last night I was awakened in the middle of the night by a snow plough that was cleaning our parking lot but sounded like it was right by my head. And it went on for ages. I decided to think about a good thing about that for today's blog. Okay. One great thing about being totally blind is that when you are wide awake in the middle of the night you can:
read braille without disturbing others
Listen to audio books without disturbing others
Get up and play the piano keyboard with headphones on without turning on lights and disturbing others
Use the computer with headphones on and no lights
I pondered this blog and listened to my audio book.
I listened to the dogs sleeping peacefully and did go back to sleep.

Great things about being blind. Experiencing the snow

One great thing about being totally blind is the way I experience snow. Sure it can be a nasty thing too especially when you have to climb over mount everest's in your path and when your guide dog chooses to take the little path through the bank and waits for you to clamber over wondering why you don't just follow her through the hole in the bank. But I digress. Snow can also be tricky as it covers landmarks that you find underfoot or along your path. But, there are great things about snow too when you're blind. You don't care if snow distorts your vision. You don't have to drive in it. But also, there is the way it feels. This morning it was snowing when I took my dogs out. Little tiny prickly flakes. When I touched Tulia's back they felt like dust or sand on her fur. They fell with a tick tick tick sound on my hood. They squeaked underfoot. Those big big flakes when they fall, they feel like something gently touching your skin. Maybe like a butterfly would feel. And they feel big and fluffy on the dog's coat. And when you walk in them, it is maybe like walking through whipped cream. Huge mounds of it as it slides away as you kick it with your boots.
Enjoy the snow everyone.

listening to conversations

One great thing about being totally blind is listening to dialogue and conversations. It used to confuse me when I was little and would be sitting in a restaurant with my family. As they would people watach, I would "people listen" The sound of a voice. The accent The tone of voice. A laugh. the way they spoke. Then, I would comment on conversations I heard. I was always told that it was rude to eavesdrop on other people's conversations. I never understood why. After all, it was just like them watching people wasn't it? Now, as a storyteller, these conversations I hear, give me fodder for stories. they make me better at composing and using dialogue. They assist me all of the time. The funniest conversation I ever overheard took place several years ago on a city bus. Two women got on and sat beside me. They proceeded to gossip for the whole ride and it must have been at least twenty minutes. "Have you seen Betty (don't remember names actually)?" "Oh yes but hasn't she gotten fat." "Have you seen Mary?" "Oh isn't it terrible. She's having an affair don't you know?" Then, luckily the best part took place just as my stop arrived. "Do you ever talk to Elizabeth?" "Oh no I never talk to her. She gossips too much." I was so glad to get off so I could laugh in peace. Takes one to know one right? Maybe totally blind people would make excellent spies. Smile!