Great things about being blind. Does your dog have a broken back?

While reading over my stories about interactions with little kids, I remembered this one which took place several years ago.  I was standing in an airport with my guide dog in her harness.  A little kid came up and started saying, "The poor doggy.  The poor doggy.  The doggy is hurt."  I touched my dog, examined her paws, ears, tail, all parts of her to make sure she wasn't bleeding.  She seemed  happy enough.  The parents were also a little confused.  They said, "No.  The dog is happy.  See the dog is wagging her tail>"  "no no no that dog is hurt."  "What is the matter with the dog?" I asked.  "She has a broken back.  She has a splint on her back."  He was talking about the harness.  Once I explained why she wore the harness and that its handle was for me to hold, he was much ahppier.  It was sweet that he was so concerned about the dog too.

Great things about being blind. Famous?

Yesterday, I had a delightful afternoon storytelling and answering questions for students in grades 4-6.  At the end, one of the students shyly asked if she could have my autograph.  That was a first.  I did sign her paper.  I'm  not sure if she can read it but a lot of sighted people have unreadable signatures too.  They asked me about how I learned to write.  I learned the shapes of letters from a set of magnetic letters we had on our fridge.  I never really learned to write long sentences but know basic letter shapes and I did learn to sign my name.  In grade eight, we had to practice signing our names every day for a few minutes.  This was at school for the blind.  After that autograph, I started to feel a little famous until we got up to go and everyone said, "Oh goodbye Tulia.  You are so cute."  They did say goodbye to me too but Tulia was more important and famous than I will ever be.  I don't mind at all.  Hopefully she'll let me stay by her famous side for many years.

Great things about being blind. More kid stories.

This actually didn't happen to me but was told to me by a friend who is blind.  Sometimes when offering a totally blind person a plate of food, it is helpful to describe where abouts on the plate certain food items are.  On occasion when I've been passed a plate, I have forcefully stabbed a whole roll with my fork bringing it towards my face.  I've also ensnared a paper cup of cranberry sauce and other interesting things.  My mom from an early age would say, "Your meat is at 12 O'Clock and your potatoes are at 6 O'Clock."  This means that you think of the plate as a clock face.  If the plate is sitting inf front of you, six is close to you and 12 furthest away etc.  My friend was doing a presentation on blindness at a school and she explained this concept.  A little boy put up his hand and said in a horrified voice,  "You mean, they eat their meat at 12 and don't get to eat their vegetables until 3?"  Happy eating everyone.

Great things about being blind. More interactions with kids

On saturday, I had a delightful interaction with a little boy.  It wasn't a long interaction but cute none the less and reminded me that I had been posting about conversations with kids about blindness.  I met this little boy and his brother and family.  My friend and I explained to the family that they couldn't pat Tulia when her harness was on because she was working.  I took her harness off so that they could pat her.  The mother was the most interested though.  but one of the boys said, "she has a cute little bum bum."  I was a bit shocked at first.  Did they mean me?  My friend?  Or the dog?  Tulia does have a cute little bum bum and her whole body wags when she is happy.  I was releived that he meant Tulia and not any of the people.  I still smile when I think of him saying it.

Great things about being blind. Can you see this?...

I've been writing about wonderful encounters with kids. One of my favourite encounters took place over several days. It was when I had my first guide dog I think. I would be walking home from work. Often taking the same route. I passed by a house and heard this little voice, "Excuse me. Excuse me." And this little kid (never knew if he/she was male or female) ran to the end of the sidewalk.
"Can you see?"
"No I can't>"
"Can you see anything at all?"
"No."
"Is that why you have that dog with you?"
"Yes."
"Can you see my very cute stuffed bear?" And he/she held it out eagerly.
"No. But I could touch it and know what it is like if you pass it to me."
So he/she did.
I thanked him or her and walked on.
The next day same time, there he/she was waiting on the walk.
"Excuse me. Can you see my crayon?"
"No."
Then he/she put the crayon in my hand.
"It is a red crayon. It is my favourite." he/she told me.
The next day,
"Can you see my wonderful bike?"
And on and on it went for several days. We had really great conversations and I looked forward to them.
It was as if he/she thought that maybe if he/she brought out enough things, there might be something I could see. One day it was pouring and he/she wasn't there.
I was glad not to find him/her standing out in the rain, but I missed our conversations.
I never saw him/her again which made me a little sad.
I always looked forward to hearing that voice.
"Excuse me. Excuse me.
and my favourite memory was,
"Can you see my GI Jo?" For some reason, that is still how I remember him/her.
"Excuse me. Can you see my GI Jo?"
That still makes me smile.
I know the GI Jo might mean it was a boy but you never know.

Great things about being blind. Washing out your eyes?

Yesterday, I started a series of posts about amusing interactions I have had with young kids about my blindness. My very first job was as a camp counsellor at a camp for kids without disabilities. Early on, we were swimming and this little boy was convinced that if I ducked my head under water, opened my eyes for quite a long time, and then came up, I would see. He kept saying I must have lots of junk in my eyes. I should just try it. Once he realized it wouldn't work, he was quite sure that I had gone blind when my house blew up, caught fire, or something dramatic. He was also disappointed that it was nothing movie worthy after all.