Great things about being blind. Touching animals. It's a small world.

Last night, I told christmas stories to a church group of seniors at their christmas dinner. I sat with them for dinner and pie although I already had dinner so just had pie. Then, told stories that were well received. About my grandparents and christmas. Then, sang my first carols of the season. A wonderful magical night with great people. A lady came up to me after and asked if I remembered a trip to the museum of nature where people let me touch all kinds of animals. Squirrels, chip munks, humming birds, other birds, bears, beavers, etc. They were mounted and stuffed and usually not allowed to be touched. I loved that day so much. I never knew how long a squirrels tail was. How big it was. What a beaver's teeth were like etc. I couldn't get enough of it. Anyway, this lady was one of the ladies who let me touch those animals and she said she never forgot the wonder in me as I did so. I thanked her again and again for showing me nature. What a small world it is. Glad I could tell stories for her last night and give back a little for what I got all those years ago.

Great things about being blind. Touching animals.

Yesterday, I mentioned being able to touch a stuffed loon at a camp site museum. It reminded me of other times when I got to touch stuffed and mounted animals. One of the most memorable times occurred when I was running day camps for kids who were blind several years ago. I contacted the museum of nature and they were willing and eager to give us a special tour, take some animals out from behind glass, and let us touch them. I was more excited than the kids I think and I loved that day and still think of it. They let us touch squirrels, chipmunks, different birds (humming birds, owls, jays for example) they let us touch a beaver, a rabit, a polar bear, moose. It was so fascinating. I never knew what the animal fur or feathers felt like. I never knew their sizes, shapes. I could hear birds flying. I could hear the humming bird humming around flowers but didn't know how little it was. I heard the sounds of owls but could never imagine their shapes. Feeling a beaver's tail helped me to realize how they use them to signal danger. It was an amazing experience from start to finish and I will never forget it.